THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 28, 1995 TAG: 9504280632
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Midway through the second half of Thursday's girls soccer showdown between the two teams that share South Hampton Roads' No. 1 ranking, Norfolk Academy and Cox, the Bulldog fans stood up for their teams' rights.
Bragging rights, that is.
With a commanding 5-1 victory, Norfolk Academy (11-2-1) left no doubt as to which team is the area's best.
``In my mind we were always No. 1,'' Bulldog forward Angie Hucles said. ``But it didn't feel like it was that big (of a lead). Cox never gave up. It seemed like it was 2-1 the whole game.''
Actually, the Bulldogs took a 2-0 halftime lead before the Falcons (7-2-2) were able to get a goal on the board.
Hucles opened the scoring with 2:16 to go in the first half when she connected on a direct kick after being fouled just outside the box.
And less than a minute later, Clara Sims tapped in another for the Bulldogs.
Cox, however, refused to give up. The Falcons scored a goal to open the second half, making it 2-1, when Kirsty Hale beat a diving Kendra Robins to the left side of the net.
But five minutes later, Norfolk Academy's Carrie Evans started a three-goal scoring spree that put the game out of reach.
``Big-time players make big-time differences,'' Norfolk Academy coach Kevin Sims said.
At the 26:22 mark, Evans converted a corner attempt for a 3-1 lead. She netted another 6:42 later and with 7:26 to go, Hucles blasted a shot in the left corner of the goal to round out the scoring.
``The score in no way indicates how both teams played,'' said Evans, whose team outshot the Falcons, 15-9. ``It was a tough game offensively and defensively.''
Cox keeper Laura McFerrin notched nine saves on the day, and Robins had six for the Bulldogs.
``I knew it was going to be a very competitive game,'' Cox coach Terri Sawyer said. ``They're a great team and they played great.
Added Sims, ``When you hear of a 5-1 game, that usually connotes somewhat of a mismatch. That's not the kind of game it was. The difference today was that we cashed in our chances.''
Norfolk Academy will meet No. 5 Maury today at 4:30 p.m. The Commodores handed the Bulldogs their only loss last season. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Katie Kjome of Cox, left, walks away as Clara Sims, center, and
Anglea Hucles of Norfolk Academy celebrate after one of their team's
five goals. The two teams had been tied for the top ranking in South
Hampton Roads.
by CNB