THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 24, 1995 TAG: 9503230152
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 204 lines
THERE ARE MANY reasons for picking Cox as the boys soccer favorite in the Beach District this season - experience, size, scoring punch, talent.
The Falcons advanced to the Group AAA state final last year - losing to Hylton - but return several players from that squad. Leading the way is 6-foot-5 forward Matt Whalen, the Group AAA state player of the year and one of the top Olympic Developmental players in the region. Whalen has won a host of awards including high school All-American status.
Backed up by all-district players Ben Speckhart, 6-3, and Matt Wilbricht, 6-2, Cox has arguably more size than any other team in the area. Ross Brockwell is the other returning all-district player at keeper.
Supported by a cast of impressive returners and newcomers, it's easy to see why district coaches have selected Cox has the hands-on favorite.
``Their talent can create an awful lot of problems for everybody,'' Kempsvile coach Kevin Denson said. ``Lots and lots of problems.''
But those same coaches are quick to point out that this year's race is no gimme for Cox. Kempsville is loaded with talent and Kellam's experience and number of returners has some Knights eyeing the Falcons' district crown. Salem also returns a good portion of its talent from last year. Nobody should take Green Run lightly. Tallwood also has the ability to stay on the field with the district's finest.
With so many quality teams, it's also easy to see why the Beach is being picked by coaches in the Eastern and Southeastern districts as once again the power league in the area.
Great Bridge and Churchland should be the teams to beat in the Southeastern District - the Wildcats having played exceptionally well in scrimmages against Cox and Kempsville.
Granby is again the team to beat in the Eastern District, with Maury a close second.
Following is a look at Beach District boys soccer teams in a predicted order of finish:
COX
Coach: Jim Snodgrass.
Last year's record: 16-3-2 overall, 8-0 in the district (state and region runner-up).
Top returners: Matt Whalen, Sr., forward; Ben Speckhart, Sr., sweeper or stopper; Matt Wilbricht, Sr., sweeper or stopper; Ross Brockwell, Sr., keeper; Robbie Brown, Sr., defender; J.J. Steckroth, Sr., midfielder; Nathan Voorman, Sr., midfielder.
Top newcomers: Ben Kjome, Sr., midfielder; Amir Nekmoumand, Jr., defender; Nick Fisher, Jr., midfielder.
Strength: Size and experience.
Weakness: Possible lack of speed.
Summary: Whalen was last year's Group AAA state player of the year and had 22 goals. He leads a group of four players over 6 feet - making the Falcons arguably the biggest team in the league. After advancing to the state final, there is no question that Cox is the most experienced team in the league - with four all-Beach returners.
``Our experience and ability to score goals will be a big advantage,'' Snodgrass said. ``But we're a little young in the backfield. And while we're big, we need to be quick.''
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Kevin Denson.
Last year's record: 10-2-3, 6-1-1.
Top returners: Kevin Knott, So., defender; Jeremiah Smith, Sr., keeper; Rodney Curtis, Sr., midfielder; Geoff Williams, Sr., midfielder; Sam Meekins, Sr., defender.
Top newcomers: Matt Schultz, Jr., forward; Joe Moriarity, So., forward; Joe Buchholz, Fr., forward.
Strength: Good skill players.
Weakness: Inexperience at some positions.
Summary: Knott is a national U-17 pool player and Buchholz is in the U-16 national pool. Smith was the U-17 state Olympic Development keeper. Schultz was one of the top players in the district for Salem last year. But the Chiefs will be without sophomore national U-17 player Adam Whiteley, who was found in violation of School Board policies, sent to another school and banned for one year from extracurricular activities.
``Losing a player like him does hurt, but it doesn't kill us or anything,'' Denson said. ``We have some talent, but we're young and could be unpredictable. We have some great club players and promising newcomers, but we lost a lot of people. We'll just have to wait and see.''
KELLAM
Coach: Don Hart
Last year's record: 10-3-2, 5-2-1
Top returners: P.J. Burns, Sr., sweeper; Jeremy Lehr, Sr., forward; Noah Garrett, Sr., midfielder; Jacob Ethridge, Sr., keeper; Chris Phelan, Jr., defender; Ed Stockunas, Jr., midfielder; Jay Gunia, Jr., stopper
Top newcomers: Dustin Keesee, Fr., forward or midfielder; Chris Bornako, Jr., midfielder
Strength: Good team unity both on and off the field
Weakness: Depth
Summary: The Knights return nearly their entire lineup and many of the players have been together for six or seven years through middle school and club play. Three of the players have already signed with colleges and Ethridge was rated as the No. 1 keeper at the Duke University camp.
``This is the most talented group I've ever seen here,'' Hart said. ``This could be a very good year.''
SALEM
Coach: Ken Fabian
Last year's record: 11-3-1, 5-3
Top returners: Mark Dixon, Sr., sweeper; Eddie MacDonald, Sr., forward; Jason Rafal, Sr., stopper; Justin Shedd, Sr., defender; Drew Moss, Sr.; midfielder; Josh Morgan, Jr., forward; Chip Rohr, Sr., keeper; Jason Gregory, Jr., defender; Brandon Hughes, Sr., midfielder
Top newcomers: Bryan Henry, So., midfielder; Robert Munson, Fr., midfielder; Danny Spence, So., midfielder; Ryan Ramsey, Fr., defender; Patrick Murphy, Jr., midfielder
Strength: Midfield
Weakness: Finishing
Summary: Like Kellam, the Sun Devils also return a host of players who have been together for several years.
``We lost a couple of great players, so there will be a question of putting everything together,'' Fabian said. ``Our play should be very strong and we should have some great chances. But I think finishing will be our problem. We're not proven in that regard.''
TALLWOOD
Coach: A.V. Bowman
Last year's record: 10-3-1, 4-3-1
Top returners: Danny McVey, Sr., striker; David Vardaro, Sr., sweeper; Brandon Spontak, Sr., midfielder; Vaughn Gladwell, Sr., forward and midfield; Adam Prater, Sr., forward; Chris Couch, Sr., defender; Thomas Barnes, Sr., stopper; Chris Mahon, Jr., defender
Top newcomers: Dan Davan, So., midfielder; Shamari Hollingsworth, So., striker
Strength: Attack
Weakness: Defense
Summary: McVey was the leading scorer in the area last season with 28 goals and six assists.
``We might play in a lot of 8-7 ball games,'' Bowman said. ``We have the ability to score that much, so it could be exciting, anyway.''
GREEN RUN
Coach: Chris Jacobs (first year)
Last year's record: 7-5-2, 2-5-1
Top returners: Charles Cowden, Jr., midfielder; Mark McMullen, So., striker; Clint Crouse, Sr., defender; Mark Buttolph, Sr., midfielder; Jermaine Maull, Jr., midfielder
Top newcomers: Winston Small, Sr., sweeper; Stephen Marsden, Jr., forward
Strength: Offense
Weakness: Inexperienced defense
Summary: ``We're definitely going to be an offensive-minded team,'' said Jacobs, who played for Green Run from 1986-89. ``We have some guys who can really put the ball in the net and I think our frame of mind is going to be to try and outscore people.''
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Joe Tucei
Last year's record: 6-7, 3-5
Top returners: Joe Young, Sr., midfielder; Aaron Anderson, Sr., defender; Carl Boggs, Sr., defender; Josh Balsy, Sr., defender; Ross Winfield, Sr., midfielder; Robbie O'Donnell, So., defender; Joey Broscious, Jr., midfielder
Top newcomers: Corey Fogle, Jr., keeper; Craig Collins, Jr., forward
Strength: Defense
Weakness: Scoring
Summary: ``Finding somebody to score goals for us has been a problem lately,'' Tucei said. ``But the good thing is that I don't think we'll need many goals, because this is the strongest defensive team I've had in a while.''
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: Jeff Steckroth
Last year's record: first year school
Top returners: none
Top newcomers: Tony Asperin, So., midfielder; Chris Lane, Jr., sweeper or midfielder; Justin Lamb, Jr., midfielder; Eivind Eriksen, Sr., defender; Scott Mead, Sr., keeper
Strength: Midfield and speed
Weakness: Scoring
Summary: ``We don't seem to have a bona fide finisher right now,'' Steckroth said. ``So we'll probably struggle offensively. We'll use our speed to try and push forward and counterattack.''
BAYSIDE
Coach: Tom Hamblett
Last year's record: 7-6, 2-6
Top returners: Adam Larve, Sr., midfielder; Neal Dorsman, Sr., defender; John Porter, So., midfielder; Kevin Cherwa, So., midfielder
Top newcomers: Jimmy Leffier, Fr., midfielder
Strength: Height and backfield
Weakness: Offense
Summary: ``We have no offense to speak of, but we have some height and maybe we'll be good in the air,'' Hamblett said. ``Our best chance will be to try and counterattack.''
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Matt Delaney (first year)
Last year's record: 2-11, 0-8
Top returners: Billy Peterson, So., striker; Joshn Price, Jr., midfielder; Todd White, Jr., midfielder; Eric Gallagan, Sr., sweeper; Charles Blaylock, Jr., keeper
Top newcomers: Jason Denton, Sr., stopper; Tom Fogarty, Fr., defender; Gabe Platt, So., striker
Strength: Improved defense
Weakness: Cavaliers haven't won a district game in two years
``We have some experience up the middle and some of the guys are really longing to win a district game,'' Delaney said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Goalkeeper Ross Brockwell, a senior, is among four all-district
players returning for Cox High's soccer team, last year's state
runner-up.
Cox senior forward Matt Whalen was the Group AAA state player of the
year last year and a high school All-American.
by CNB