THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 16, 1994 TAG: 9411150140
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
KIM IMAN AND the Maytag repair man would have plenty to talk about if they ever met.
And more than enough time to chat. Heck, they could even hold forums on different time-killing methods.
The two have that much in common.
In the television commercials, the Maytag guy is famous for his efforts to find something to do while waiting for someone to call for repairs. They never call.
For the past two seasons, Iman has found herself in a similar situation. She is the Cox High field hockey team goalkeeper, and it's rare that opponents give her much work.
The five-time defending state champion Falcons have outscored the opposition, 96-2, heading into Thursday's quarterfinal round of the Group AAA state tournament at Oakton High in Vienna. The margin last season was 85-5.
So in her two years as a starter, Iman has seen only seven balls skirt by.
Not too shabby, although it's more than enough to make the Maytag guy jealous.
Much of the credit obviously goes to the Falcons scoring machine - a unit that keeps the team on the offensive more than opponents care to see.
But when teams do make a charge and get off a shot at Iman, the senior is more than prepared to meet the task.
``There is no rest for her at practice,'' coach Nancy Fowlkes said. ``We shoot at her 90 percent of the practice.''
And given the caliber of the Falcons' offensive line, that is quality practice.
Cox boasts the two leading career goal scorers in the state in Kim Miller and Kirsty Hale. And the rest of the attacking side are pretty good in their own right.
``She is prepared for game time,'' Fowlkes said.
And during a game, you won't find Iman fiddling with her pads or messing with her hair.
She doesn't play solitaire like the Maytag guy.
No, in one way or another, she's always in the game.
``It's not hard to stay in the game,'' Iman said. ``I stay focused by watching the ball the entire game. I never take my eyes off of it. That way I concentrate and stay focused.
``When we have a penalty corner going at the other end of the field, I practice clearing the ball to the side. So, I'm ready when the ball comes my way.''
It doesn't hurt that the Cox defenders are equally skilled as the offensive side. It's rare that opponents even get a shot at Iman.
``It doesn't bother me one bit if I don't see a shot,'' Iman said. ``That way, I know the rest of the team is doing their job and we're on top.''
And that's where Iman and the Falcons have been this season. Sporting an 18-0 record and a 23-game winning streak dating back to last year's tournament, Cox is the hands-on favorite to win a sixth-straight and ninth overall state title.
Iman will surely see several shots at state. Just how many is anybody's guess.
She says she's ready and her teammates have no doubt she is.
And should the Falcons put on the kind of show they hope to, it would be a good opportunity for the Maytag guy to get out of the office and see what his counterpart does with her spare time. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Kim Iman's position as goalkeeper for Cox High School is a piece of
cake: It is rare that opponents give her much work. In her two
years as a starter, Iman has seen only seven balls skirt by.
TOURNEY SCHEDULE
OAKTON HIGH IN VIENNA QUARTERFINALS: 1 p.m. - McLean (16-0-1) vs.
Midlothian (16-2-1); Cox (18-0) vs. Albemarle (5-7-5). 3 p.m. -
James River (8-5-2) vs. Centreville (12-4-1); North Stafford
(13-4-2) vs. Bayside (16-4).
SEMIFINALS: 12:30 p.m. - McLean/Midlothian winner vs. Cox/Albemarle
winner. 2:30 p.m. - James River/Centreville winner vs. North
Stafford/Bayside winner
CHAMPIONSHIP: 11 a.m.
by CNB