THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 10, 1994 TAG: 9411100773
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Cox and Bayside made the Eastern Region field hockey final an all-Beach affair for the third straight year with victories over Peninsula teams in semifinal play Wednesday at Cox.
Since the Group AAA state tournament began an eight-team field in 1990, the Beach has filled both Eastern berths four of the five years. Beach teams have faced each other in three of the last four state championship finals and are hoping to make it a fourth next week at Vienna's Oakton High.
Cox has won the last five state championships, while this is Bayside's first trip to the dance.
The Falcons (17-0) gave Tabb (13-3-2) a taste of what AAA action is like at the top, whipping the former AA Tigers, 6-0.
Bayside (16-2) followed with a 2-0 victory over perennial Peninsula power Lafayette (11-2-3) - the only non-Beach team to advance out of the region under the new format.
In the opener, Cox was relentless in front of the Tabb goal, blasting 27 shots at first-year keeper Erin Byrne. Kirsty Hale scored four times, three in the second half, and Kim Miller and Lauren Crenshaw added goals.
``It would have been 20-0 if it weren't for (Byrne),'' Tabb coach Paul Kirby said.
Bayside also overpowered their Peninsula opponent, finishing with a 17-0 shooting advantage.
But after taking a 2-0 lead into the second half, Bayside lost some intensity.
``No kidding,'' coach Patti Bullock said. ``At halftime, they talked about scoring three more goals. We had the chances, and we were ready to score, we just didn't.''
In today's 2 p.m. championship at Cox, Bayside will likely be without high-scoring speedster Quan Nim, who has been hampered by a sprained hamstring. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Bayside's Kristin Stubbe, left, races against Lafayette's Jenny
Schwab in Bayside's 2-0 victory. The Marlins are state-bound.
by CNB