THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503280121
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 105 lines
THERE'S NO DOUBT among league coaches that Maury is heads and shoulders above the rest in the Eastern District girls soccer race.
Commodores coach Robert Mayer has taken over for Harold Sigler, who retired. Mayer only questions how long it will take for his young team to reach its full potential.
``It's going to take us a while,'' he said. ``Hopefully we'll win the Eastern District. With a young team like this, it's hard to say.
``We lost some good seniors. Hopefully, the girls that were freshmen and sophomores can come in and take their place.''
But Mayer won't have to fill in his top offensive and defensive positions. The Commodores leading scorer, Shwante Snead returns as do halfback Katie Roman and keeper Colleen Maloney.
Snead, a first team all-district and All-Tidewater pick, scored 24 of Maury's 62 goals. Roman was also a first-team pick and selected to the state team. Maloney, the league's newcomer of the year, will be a mainstay in the box.
``I think eventually they'll be very strong,'' Mayer said. ``How fast they develop is up to them.''
What leaves Mayer most excited is that this squad will be together for the next two seasons - which is bad news for the rest of the district. They, as usual, will be battling it out for second place.
Booker T. Washington and Granby seem to be the favorites, but the coaches agree that after Maury, second could go to anybody.
``It's pretty even,'' Lake Taylor coach Amy Harrell said. ``It'll go down to each game.''
Added Granby coach Joanie Murphy: ``It's up in the air. All the squads are young.''
Here's a look at the Eastern District team-by-team in their predicted order of finish:
MAURY
Coach: Robert Mayer.
Top returners: Katie Roman, halfback, Jr.; Sarah Eppler, fullback, Jr.; Meagan Kinnear, fullback, Jr.; Mary Lee McLaughlin, sweeper, Jr.; Shwante Snead, forward, Jr.; Colleen Maloney, keeper, So.; Annie Mayer, forward, So.; Janet Blevins, forward, So.
Top newcomers: Leandra Bessell, halfback, Fr.; Julie Bollerup, halfback, Fr.; Courtney Dozier, halfback/forward, Fr.; Jessica Simmermon, stopper, Fr.; Kate Reilly, fullback, Fr.
Outlook: All-Tidewater players Snead, who scored 24 goals last season, and Roman should help the Commodores to another title. But in order to be successful outside the league, the younger players must step up their game.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Coach: Mary Lib Delong.
Top returners: Amanda Boone, fullback, Sr.; Alicia Fields, forward, Sr.; Alisha Hawkins, fullback, Sr.; Kiki Sowell, forward, Sr.; Leah Bryd, sweeper, Jr.; Lynn Clark, keeper, Jr.; Leah Buhler, stopper, So.; Tara Lapeza, fullback, So.
Top newcomers: Nicole Boyce, forward, So.; Leslie Evidente, keeper, Fr.; Sherika Sadler, midfield, So.; Jannat Scoon, midfield, So.; Cherrie Sowell, midfield, So.; Andrea Thomas, midfield, So.
Outlook: Delong, in her first season as the varsity coach, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to an athletic squad. Led by field hockey standouts Fields and Sowell, the Bookers should be able to outrun everybody in the district.
GRANBY
Coach: Joanie Murphy.
Top returners: Natalie Weatherburn, keeper, Jr.; Angela Tumminelli, striker, So.; Sara McLaughlin, midfielder, So.; Vaughn Bell, striker, Jr.; Christina Sarvis, midfielder/defender, So.; Brandi Wright, defender, Jr.; Melissa Mullen, defender, Jr.; Amy Harrison, midfielder, Jr.; Laura Cardo, defender, Jr.; Denise Fowble, midfielder, Jr.
Top newcomers: Joy Martin, midfielder/striker, Fr.; Karen Allen, midfielder/striker, Fr.; Amanda Rhorer, midfielder, Fr.; Tonya John, defender, Jr.
Outlook: Despite their youth, the Comets have sound skills and should battle with Booker T. for the league's coveted second-place spot. All-district picks Sarvis, Weatherburn and Tumminelli will anchor the attack. Tumminelli, the Comets' leading scorer with 13 goals, provides the offensive punch.
LAKE TAYLOR
Coach: Amy Harrell.
Top returners: Stephanie Lynch, forward, Jr.; Susan Pulongbarit, forward, So.; Liz Riedel, halfback, Sr.; Heather Harkins, keeper, Sr.
Top newcomers: Mecia Jones, forward/fullback, Fr.; Dawn Anderson, forward/halfback, Sr.
Outlook: The Titans had a big turnout and have 23 girls - 15 are juniors - on the roster, which Harrell says will definitely work to her advantage. Anderson, a transfer from Norview, was an all-district pick and will add depth to the forward position.
NORVIEW
Coach: Don Lyons.
Top returners: Lakeisha Phelps, midfielder, Jr.; Jennifer Ramos, sweeper, Sr.; Jennifer Bray, midfielder, Sr.
Top newcomers: Kim Fair, midfielder, Fr.; Liz Krenek, keeper, Fr.; Melissa Reece, striker, Fr.; Lynn Prindle, back, Fr.
Outlook: It will be another developing year for the young Pilots. Fair and Prindle have both played in the youth leagues and will strengthen the middle and defense. ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Maury's Katie Roman works the ball through the Norview defense.
Roman is one of several standouts who are back for the Commodores.
by CNB