THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409160270
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
They're going to Disney World.
Well, actually, they already went.
A team of local soccer players - mostly from Virginia Beach - last weekend captured the over-40 division of the inaugural Walt Disney World Soccer Classic. The team represented the Virginia Beach Soccer Club and Soccer City.
The team defeated a squad from Italy in a shootout after playing to a 2-2 tie. During qualifying play, Italy was the only team to defeat the locals, taking a 4-1 decision.
``When they got off the bus, they were dressed up like professionals,'' team spokesman George Oxx said. ``They looked great. In fact, to find out, six of their players were former professionals.
``It was an honor just to be invited to play in this thing, much less actually win it.''
The locals defeated reigning East Coast over-40 champions Vintage Atlanta, 3-2, on two goals by Kenny Johnson and one by Jurgen Gabler. Gabler had an assist, and George Cruz had two.
Team Virginia Beach Soccer World/Soccer City then fell to the Italians, getting a lone goal from Ron Green on an assist from Cruz.
The locals bounced back with a 2-1 must-win victory over Tallahassee on goals by Gabler and Ken Gebbie. Cruz had another assist and Gene Gasparini had one.
After regulation play in the championship - on goals by Gebbie and Gasparini - the contest moved directly into penalty kick instead of overtime, because several players had flights to catch.
``We took them 4-3 in the shootout,'' Oxx said. ``Our goalie (John Morgan) did a great job. He blocked two of their shots.''
The locals got shootout goals from Green, Olah Kampschmidt, Casparini and Gabler.
Oxx said the tournament - featuring play in several age divisions - was played on fields at a complex built for World Cup practice sessions.
``This place was incredible,'' he said. ``It's a pleasure to play on fields like that, especially after watching all the World Cup matches. We all just had a great time and we're hoping they hold this thing again next year.''
Virginia Beach residents on the team were Oxx, Green, Peter Wolfenden, Kampschmidt, George Needham, Gebbie, Ralf Baerner, Johnson, Fritz Falch, Rusty Ferrel, Gabler and George Albiston.
Norfolk residents were Morgan, Ray White and Doug Maume. Bruce Hatfield represented Chesapeake, Gasparini is from Portsmouth and Cruz traveled from Moyock, N.C., to play. Glenn Bell of Virginia Beach was an alternate.
The success has the team thinking about future over-40 play.
``We've already been invited to two tournaments and were told the Italians want us to come over to play in some of theirs,'' Oxx said. ``What we've done has us thinking we might have one of the best over-40 clubs in the country and we'd like to find out.
``Several businesses have talked about sponsoring us, and we'll need that to keep playing.'' ILLUSTRATION: Gene Gasparini makes a move around one of the Italian players.
by CNB