THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, April 24, 1995 TAG: 9504240156
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Although Sunday's weather - cold, overcast, and wet - made the British Royal Navy soccer team feel right at home, the Hampton Roads Mariners made sure they didn't overstay their welcome with a 4-0 exhibition victory at Old Dominion that kicked off the 42nd annual Azalea Festival.
``We tried a few different tactics tonight. We had a goal of being more creative in our final third,'' Mariners coach Sonny Travis said.
Hampton Roads forward Wayne Pratt, snakebitten offensively in the Mariners' first two games, broke through with two goals.
The first came less than three minutes into the second half. Pratt beat defender Kev O'Donnel and ran in on keeper Daisy Adams. The goalie came out, but Pratt shot underneath him, sneaking the ball into the left corner to give the Mariners a 2-0 lead.
Pratt tallied again at 37:23. Judd Wilman played the ball up to Pratt up the middle. The ball was a bit behind him, so Pratt flicked it in front with the side of his foot and took it in, beating Adams with a shot directly on goal.
``When you've been getting chances and you don't score, it's tough,'' said Pratt. ``This will give me confidence.''
``He's the kind of player that's intense, and he's had opportunities, but they can't fall every day,'' Travis said.``(Tonight) he was much more composed on the finish.''
The Mariners peppered Adams with shotsand had a 16-3 advantage in that category. The Brits didn't have a shot-on-goal in the second half.
``Fitness, towards the end, was a factor,'' Pratt said.
The British Royal Navy finished out the game with lumbering forwards Ox Haley and Lofty Lofthouse - better known for their size than their speed - up front.
Hampton Roads got the better of the British Royal Navy team from the start of the game, but Adamsusually defended well.
The only thing he couldn't defend was his teammates.
Mariners midfielder Joe Hermann played the ball in front of the goal, and Des Mercer had the misfortune of having the ball hit off his legs and past Adams, resulting a 1-0 Hampton Roads lead at the half.
Mark Waite rounded out the scoring for the Mariners with 29 minutes left in the game. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Judd Wilman (right) of the Hampton Roads Mariners heads the ball
past a British Royal Navy opponent Sunday in an exibition game.
by CNB