THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040922
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
One of Brian Parker's teammates stopped the junior forward as he went to the midfield stripe, about to check in as a substitute.
``Hey, Brian, I'm betting on you scoring a goal today,'' said the teammate.
``Then right before I went in, he took the bet back,'' Parker laughed.
He should have let it ride.
Parker not only scored but also assisted on the game-winner as Norfolk Academy defeated Norfolk Collegiate, 2-1, in a Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools semifinal at Jewish Community Center Thursday afternoon.
In the other semifinal, Griff Behncke scored two goals and Matt Neely added another as Hampton Roads Academy built a 3-0 halftime lead en route to a 3-2 victory over Norfolk Christian. The Ambassadors had one goal each from Derek Finlen and Jeremy Elms.
Norfolk Academy travels to Richmond today to take on Trinity Episcopal at Richmond Collegaite in a Virginia Prep League quarterfinal game. It will go to Hampton Roads for the TCIS final Saturday at 3 p.m.
Parker scored on a header to give the Bulldogs (17-4) a 1-0 lead midway through the first half. Parker's goal was set up when Ben Kottke headed the ball from the top of the box to Parker, at the right side of the box on a far-side throw-in. Collegiate keeper Jeff Oelrich was pulled out of position defending the initial header.
``That was a set play,'' Bulldogs coach Kevin Sims said. ``We knew Jeff is a good keeper, and we needed to get him out of position.''
The Oaks (14-3-2) answered with 40 seconds remaining in the opening half when junior Trey Cooper scored off a one-touch by Jason Jordan on a direct kick from the left side of the box.
The second half was a series of end-to-end charges. The Bulldogs scored the game-winner when Parker took the ball from midfield about 20 yards up the left side, making a great move to avoid a Collegiate defender, then found hard-charging Herb Eilberg in the center of the field.
Eilberg finished the charge for his 26th goal of the season.
``Parker made a great move and took a lot of space,'' Norfolk Collegiate co-coach Willie Kee said. ``Then Herb took it from there and he's a money player. I knew coming in that one defensive breakdown was going to cost whoever committed it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
JOSEPH JOHN KOTLOWSKI/Staff
Herb Eilberg scored the game-winning goal in the second half. ``He's
a money player,'' Norfolk Collegiate co-coach Willie Kee said.
by CNB