THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160267
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
The numbers are hard to fathom.
To expect them to continue is even more difficult to believe.
But when it is said that this year's Cox field hockey team could likely be better than the last two, well . . . that's practically insane.
Cox has won the last five Group AAA titles and is shooting for a sixth - to go with three others earned since the tournament began in 1977.
The Falcons had a 58-game winning streak going last year - fourth-longest in national high school field hockey history - until Green Run beat them in a penalty strokes shootout in the Beach District tournament final.
Cox didn't look at the loss as one on the field, and continued on to the state championship, beating Green Run in both the regional final and the state title game.
In doing so, the Falcons outscored their opponents, 79-5.
The year before, the totals were even more lopsided.
So this year's team is going to be better than the past two? That's down right scary.
``Yes it is,'' one opposing Beach coach said. ``Cox is, without a doubt, in a league of its own.''
The Falcons return the top two scorers in the state in Kirsty Hale and Kim Miller. Hale edged her front line teammate, 31 goals to 30.
Few teams in the state had 30 goals - that's teams - much less two players with that many each.
And the word around hockey circles is that the two have several players pushing them for chances to score.
So the only question left to ask is this: ``How long can the Falcons keep this up?''
``It's gotten to the point that each team doesn't want to be the team to not win a state championship,'' hockey genius and Cox coach Nancy Fowlkes said.
``On paper, this is the best 11 players I've ever put on the field. Whether or not they are the best team we've ever had remains to be seen.
``That's up to them.''
Despite all of Cox's power, there is one thing that can't be forgotten - Cox does nothing but get better because of the level of play in the Beach District.
Every team the Falcons face can take some credit for the accomplishments this team has enjoyed.
``We're going to be very good, but we're looking for everybody,'' Fowlkes said. ``We have to, because we're guaranteed everybody's best game.
``That's one reason why we're so good at the end.''
Another reason is tradition.
When you've been so good for so long, the people who play for you seem to work harder toward being their best.
The substitute players at Cox, it is rumored, are nearly as good as the starters. And playing against the best team in the state on a daily basis only makes them better.
It's a cycle that seemingly has no end. MEMO: Got an interesting sports-related story to tell. If so, call The Beacon
at 490-7228 and let us know about it, or write to The Beacon, Sports
Department, 4565 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, Va., 23462. The
fax number is 490-7235.
by CNB