THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 25, 1994 TAG: 9410260676
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vicki L. Friedman
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
It's been a memorable season for Virginia Wesleyan soccer, but that will all be forgotten when the Marlins and the Lady Marlins take the field this afternoon.
At least the coaches hope so.
The Marlins, ranked No. 1 in the South-Atlantic Division and No. 2 nationally in Division III behind Ohio Wesleyan, finished the regular season 16-0-1 and outscored their opponents 83-11. The Lady Marlins, ranked in the South for the first time at No. 6, finished with a 12-3-0 record, 7-1 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. But about all that means in the ODAC tournament is that opponents will be keying on them.
``I've told everyone it's a clean slate, a brand-new season,'' said women's coach Kyle Hannon. ``The most important thing about going into the postseason is to be fresh.''
The Wesleyan women open the ODAC tournament at 1 p.m. this afternoon against Sweet Briar. The men, who have home-field advantage throughout, host Lynchburg College at 3:30 p.m.
Men's coach Sonny Travis is used to a winning tradition at Wesleyan. In his six years with the team, the Marlins have advanced to the NCAA tournament four times, last year going all the way to the final 16. The team T-shirt proclaims ``Winning is an attitude'' in bold red letters, and it's definitely Travis' attitude.
``As far as I'm concerned, the only polls that matter are those at the end of the season,'' he says. ``I think this is the best all-around team we've had. The chemistry on this team is unique. Plus, we have three big-time scorers; it's hard for other teams to keep up defensively.''
Junior Jim Hickling of Virginia Beach, senior Mike Duffy and junior Evan Whitson have combined for 54 goals and 31 assists. Duffy had his 51st career goal against Eastern Mennonite on Saturday to become Wesleyan's all-time leading scorer.
Whitson, whose 16 goals led the Marlins in '93, said the scoring division has improved the team. ``Last year, they looked at me to lead them on the attack,'' he said. ``This year, there are two other guys to share the load.''
Hickling, whose 20 goals lead the team, agrees. ``Teams have to worry about all of us,'' he says. ``Most teams don't have the marking backs to cover three guys.''
The Marlins tied Mary Washington College early in the season, their only setback. ``It was a good thing at the time,'' Travis said. ``We had rolled over some teams, and it woke us up. I'd rather learn with a tie than take the loss.''
While the men are used to winning teams - Travis boasts an overall record of 94-15-14 - a stellar season is not routine for the women.
``Let's face it,'' says Hannon, in his second year at Wesleyan, ``Virginia Wesleyan, until this year, has been an average Division III soccer program.''
Leading scorer Marcie Blackbourn, a freshman from New Jersey, admits, ``At the beginning of the season, I thought we'd be average.''
But after an opening 2-0 loss to Old Dominion, a Division I scholarship team, the Lady Marlins won 12 straight, including consecutive overtime wins over Roanoke College and Salisbury State University. A 2-1 overtime loss last Thursday to Randolph Macon is their only ODAC loss of the year.
``There was no doubt; we could have won that game,'' said keeper Sonya Huss, a sophomore from Virginia Beach. Huss, who has given up 14 goals and recorded 37 saves, says, ``We weren't challenging Macon in the air. . . . We all want to play Randolph Macon again.''
Unlike their male counterparts, the Lady Marlins have had only limited success in the polls. Although their No. 6 ranking is an all-time high, the Marlins have been consistently ranked lower than the teams they have beaten.
``It's the new-kid-on-the-block syndrome,'' Hannon says. ``We're a new face in Division III women's soccer. As we continue to win games, we'll gain the respect.''
Still, the Lady Marlins have a chance to go to the NCAA tournament for the first time. Three to five teams from the South will head to the 32-team tournament in November.
``That's a feat in itself,'' Hannon says. ``And if we don't make it this year, we're that much closer the next.''
That means a lot to a Lady Marlins team that has 18 freshmen and sophomores on its 21-player roster.
But for men's senior Duffy, there is no next year. ``We don't want to overlook anybody or underestimate anybody. Once postseason comes, it's a one-game season.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Goalkeeper Sonya Huss dives for a shot during a Virginia Wesleyan
practice. The Lady Marlins finished second in the ODAC regular
season with a 12-3-0 record.
Color photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Mike Duffy of Virginia Wesleyan jumps to head the ball. The Marlins
are 16-0-1 this year.
Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
The opponents have fallen before the Virginia Wesleyan men, 16-0-1
on the regular season. Here the Marlins' Gary DePalma pressures
Eastern Mennonite's Nate Derstine into a giveaway.
Graphic
ODAC TOURNEY
For copy of graphic, see microfilm
by CNB