THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505260659
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
The Hampton Roads Waves women's soccer team has been sold, named a new coach, changed its nickname and likely will change divisions.
The new Hampton Roads Piranhas plan to begin play in mid-June. Granby High School girls coach Joanie Murphy will coach the Piranhas and will hold tryouts June 3-4 at Princess Anne Park.
The team was sold by the Hampton Roads Mariners, the area's men's team, to Marcie Laumann and Susan Smith, the Mariners announced Thursday. Laumann is owner of Beach Images Photography of Virginia Beach. Smith is a longtime soccer booster from Norfolk.
The team likely will move from the Southern to the Northeastern Division of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues in which it would compete with Connecticut, Rhode Island, Cape Cod, Boston, Long Island, Baltimore and Pennsylvania, Laumann said.
William and Mary coach John Daly resigned as the Waves' coach two weeks ago after being informed by the NCAA that coaching the team was a violation of NCAA rules. The ruling came after an official from the Colonial Athletic Association, of which William and Mary is a member, contacted the NCAA.
Because the Mariners are a pro team, the NCAA ruled that college players and coaches can't be associated with another team owned by the Mariners, even though the women's team will play in an amateur league.
Mariners general manager Shawn McDonald wasn't told of the problem until last week, when Daly resigned before leaving on a two-week trip to Australia with William and Mary.
Mariners owner Mark Garcea then contacted Laumann and Smith, who had tried to buy an expansion franchise a year ago but lost out to the Mariners. Laumann and Smith quickly agreed to purchase the team, McDonald said.
Then they brought in Murphy to make their investment work.
``One of the main reasons we picked her is her ability to manage personalities, something you have to have at this level,'' Laumann said. ``The players at this level are the best in the nation. Many are from the World Cup and national teams.
``We're optimistic. We're going to run this in a business-like manner, but also try to make it a community project.''
Prospective players and sponsors can reach team officials at 468-0696. An open information meeting will be held next Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Kempsville Recreation Center. by CNB