THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411040249
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 32 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
WHEN AMY LAMOUREUX hits a field hockey ball, her form and technique are straight out of an instructional video.
The wind-up, the hit, and the way the ball skirts the playing field in blurring speed is picture perfect.
Such crushing shots have started many Cox scoring opportunities over the past two years. And when one considers that the Falcons have outscored their opponents this season, 85-2, it's safe to say Lamoureux is a big reason why.
``She's the biggest hitter on the team,'' Falcons coach Nancy Fowlkes says without hesitation.
Fowlkes has always had a player like her free-swinging midfielder - one who gives up the spotlight for the betterment of the team.
Players like Lamoureux have been a vital component to the Falcon's eight Group AAA state championships - the last five in a row.
``I think Amy really cares about everything that goes on out there,'' Fowlkes said. ``She tries to do everything right she can. And she can sure find Kim (Miller) and Kirsty (Hale) with all those big hits.''
While Lamoureux has been a part of the last two championships, trying to win this year is the most important.
``Last year meant a lot because I had more of an active role than I did my sophomore year,'' she said. ``But this year would be so much more special because I am a senior and a captain.
``And winning state is always the best feeling you can imagine.''
Cox is the hands-down favorite to bring the Beach District a 12th overall state title (Kempsville has won three state crowns) two weeks from now in Northern Virginia.
It's easy to see why.
In winning its last five titles, the Falcons have gone 96-5-2. The pressure to live up to the past is almost too much to fathom for someone outside the team.
But pressure is something Lamoureux said she and her teammates try their best not to think about.
``There is a lot of outside pressure to keep winning because it's expected after so many state titles,'' she said. ``And there is pressure from inside. I mean, come on, who wants to be the first team to lose. To not win the state title would be . . . horrific, especially during your senior year.
``But we are usually good about staying focused on the game at hand.''
The obvious reasons behind the Falcons success this year are high-scoring forwards Hale and Miller. Miller leads the season goals race, 39-34, heading into the region tournament. She is the leading scorer in state history with 86 career goals and another season to play. Hale has 75 goals in three years.
And let's not forget that there are a possible five games remaining in this season.
Whatever the count, the two couldn't do what they do best without someone feeding the offense, and Lamoureux knows that.
``I know what my role is and I don't think it's to score,'' she said with a smile. ``I just do my job, basically, and get them the ball. I do mine right and (the forwards) do theirs right and that's how we score.''
Simple enough.
But what isn't so easy for Lamoureux is thinking about the future. The honor student has applied to ``a million'' colleges and wants to study pre-law. But she knows the stresses of that curriculum.
And she also knows the commitment needed to play Division I field hockey.
``I don't know what to do,'' she said. ``It's a really tough choice for me - another one of those senior choices. I think right now that I would be willing to give up a little field hockey for my future, but I know that I'd miss it.
``So, I really don't know what to do at all. I guess I'll make up my mind.''
Right now, she has a more important goal at hand - winning another state title. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN
Cox senior Amy Lamoureux fires a shot past a Bayside player in the
final of the Beach District tournament.
by CNB