THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 13, 1995 TAG: 9504120103
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
THE EASTERN DISTRICT looks to be a two-horse soccer race with Maury and Granby as the thoroughbreds.
But don't count out Lake Taylor, as the Titans have trotted to a nice showing early in the season. Lake Taylor pulled off a surprise last week by tying Maury.
Booker T. Washington and Norview will struggle in both district and non-district competition.
Granby is the defending champion, having gone unbeaten in district competition last year. But the Comets have an entirely new front line and a new keeper.
Maury, on the other hand, returns several starters who were talented enough to help the Commodores pull off a tie against Beach District contender Kellam.
In the Beach, Cox is the overwhelming favorite although Tallwood is shaping up as a legitimate threat - having beaten Kempsville in the district opener. Kellam and Kempsville are the other favorites in the Beach.
Great Bridge is the team to beat in the Southeastern District, but Western Branch and Wilson have been early surprises. Don't count out Deep Creek and Churchland.
MAURY: Coach Mohsin Bouziane (first year).
Last year's record: 9-7, 6-2.
Top returners: Seth Taylor, Sr., center halfback; Josh Bradley, Sr., forward; Aaron Neathery, Jr., keeper and halfback; Tiff Hagan, Sr., midfield; Aaron Katrancha, Jr., fullback; Charles Reid, Jr., halfback; Michael Glover, So., sweeper and halfback; James Senechal, So., fullback; Hank Morton, So., forward; and Parker Consaul, So., midfielder.
Strength: Experienced defense and midfield.
Weakness: Inexperience on attack.
Comment: ``I wouldn't say that we have any overwhelming weaknesses,'' Bouziane said. ``We have quite a few young players, but we also have some returners who will bring them along.''
GRANBY: Coach Michael Kennedy (first year).
Last year's record: 12-4 overall, 8-0 in the district.
Top returners: Jeremy Churchill, Sr., stopper; Mark Denny, Jr., sweeper; Brian Reilly, Sr., fullback; Kevin Meyer, Jr., midfield; Joseph Tumminelli, So., midfield; Brian Knight, Jr., forward.
Top newcomer: Phillip Shea, So., keeper.
Strength: Intensity.
Weakness: Inexperienced front line.
Comment:``We're very young and I think scoring will be a weakness for us,'' Kennedy said. ``So we're going to have to take advantage of every opportunity we get, because I'm just not sure how many we'll get.''
LAKE TAYLOR: Coach Ken Whitley.
Last year's record: 3-10-1, 3-5.
Top returners: Jay Jenkins, Sr., midfield; Kent Rhodes, Sr., keeper; Joel Jimenez, Sr., forward; Dan Hall, Jr., midfield; David Stonum, So., forward.
Top newcomers: Alan Hyman, Sr., defense; Santiago Ruiz, Sr., midfield; JoJo Franca, Sr., defense; Austin Clawson, Jr., defense.
Strength: Defense led by talented foreign exchange students.
Weakness: Attack.
Comment: ``Our exchange students are very knowledgable players,'' Whitley said of Ruiz (Ecuador) and Franca (Brazil). ``We're going to depend on them to do a lot of things for us.''
NORVIEW: Coach Dan Dale (first year).
Last year's record: 2-8, 2-6.
Top returners: Chuck Barnes, Jr., halfback; Adam Smith, Jr., halfback; P.J. Platt, Jr., sweeper.
Top newcomers: Quinton Willis, Jr., forward; Willie Richards, Fr., keeper.
Strength: Defense.
Weakness: Offense.
Comment: ``We're not going to be real strong on offense, but I think we can probably put more in than they have in the past,'' Dale said. ``It would be a big help if we could, because we should be halfway decent on defense and that could keep us in a few games.''
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON: Coach George Womick.
Last year's record: 1-11, 1-7.
Top returners: Danny Collins, Sr., halfback; James Nimmo, Sr., halfback.
Top newcomers: Duwayne Williams, Fr., forward, Ian Henderson, So., keeper.
Strength: Good athletes.
Weakness: Depth.
Comment: ``We're teaching a lot of fundamentals right now,'' Womick said. ``It's really going to be a struggle for us, but the kids are working hard. We have some really good athletes out here, but they just haven't played any soccer. We're going to try to have fun and learn along the way.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Granby's Kevin Meyer dribbles the ball down the field as a Kellam
player tries to move into defensive position.
by CNB