THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 29, 1994 TAG: 9407290724
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
One of the big surprises for the Hampton Roads Hurricanes down the stretch has been the play of utility player Greg Richards, a rising junior at William and Mary.
Richards, who played at First Colonial High in Virginia Beach, joined the Hurricanes at midseason and started the final game of the regular season against the Greensboro Dynamo, a 3-1 loss. Richards replaced Neil Mason (groin pull) in the lineup.
``Despite the loss, I thought Greg had a very good game,'' Hurricanes coach Sonny Travis said. ``He's got a lot of athletic ability, he's quick and he's strong in the air. And he's a good man marker.''
Richards won't start against the Charleston Battery in the Hurricanes' opening playoff game - Mason will get the nod - but Travis expects Richards to see some playing time. The Hurricanes visit Charleston at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
``From when he first joined us to now, Greg has gained a lot of confidence,'' Travis said. ``The high level of competition is only going to help him in the college season. He had the tools. Now he believes in himself.''
LINEUP SHAKEUP: Travis said the usual field players will start Saturday, but the goalkeeping position might see a change, despite the strong play of Tim Figureido in the final weeks of the regular season.
Scott Budnick, who began the season in goal for the Hurricanes, ``has really come along in practice lately,'' according to Travis.
``Figs and Budnick have been battling in practice,'' Travis said. ``But there are some other factors. Scott has played well against Charleston in the past.''
TRAVELING MAN: The Hurricanes' whirlwind travel itinerary this season - in which a game in Charlotte one night was followed by a home game in Virginia Beach the next - was nothing new to forward Ian Spooner.
After finishing high school in Oxford, England, Spooner did what many young Brits do: He backpacked across Europe.
``You get a backpack, you get a tent and you get a train ticket,'' Spooner said matter-of-factly. ``There are organized tent lots all across Europe specifically for backpackers.''
Spooner, who three years ago ended up at Radford University on a soccer scholarship, hasn't limited his unorthodox traveling to Europe. He once hitchhiked from North Carolina to Florida. But he claims he's ready to give up traveling the highways and biways in such manner. ``I've settled down a bit,'' Spooner said.
After sitting out last season because of a lack of credit hours, Spooner, 23, will return to the Radford team this fall for his junior year. When not injured, Spooner has started for the Hurricanes, giving them a needed front-line spark. He has seven goals, tied for the team lead.
``I didn't know what the level of play would be like when I joined the team,'' Spooner said, ``but I figured the worst thing that would happen is I'd be in shape for the college season.''
CORNER KICKS: Hurricanes midfielder Blake Rogers' head injury in last Saturday's game against Greensboro, which resulted in Rogers suffering from blurred vision, was minor, and he did not sustain a concussion. . . . The Hurricanes are considering playing indoors in the winter and are exploring the possibility of playing at Scope.
If the Hurricanes play indoors, Travis said he would likely not coach the indoor team. Travis is head coach of the Virginia Wesleyan College men's team. ``I think the players would get sick of seeing me,'' Travis said. . . . Defender Leroi Wilson, who injured his left knee three weeks ago, said that if the Hurricanes advance to the ``Sizzlin' Nine'' USISL championship tournament, he may be healthy enough to return to play. by CNB