THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 2, 1995 TAG: 9506020683
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Different crowd, same old faces.
That's what girls soccer fans will see when Cox takes the field against West Springfield in today's 3 p.m. state semifinal at Ocean Lakes.
While the Falcons are making their first trip to the Final Four of the state soccer playoffs, many of the players have been there before, carrying sticks.
Eight girls on the soccer team - six of them starters - have known glory at state as part of the Cox field hockey dynasty.
``(Soccer) was a developing program,'' said senior Kirsty Hale, who's been around for four of the Falcons' nine state field hockey titles and is a big reason why Cox soccer is taking off. ``We had a lot of talent, and we finally put it together as a team.''
Hale has scored 32 of her team's 65 goals and is arguably one of South Hampton Roads' most dangerous soccer players, picking up from a field hockey career in which she scored 82 goals, second best in state history behind teammate Kim Miller.
``I think we've learned a lot of hard work and dedication,'' Hale said.
Cara Reske, a junior back, agrees. A pure soccer aficionado, Reske says that Hale and company's competitive nature has given the soccer team an edge.
But still, Reske and coach Terri Sawyer's ``true soccer players'' would like to make a little history of their own.
``Pride and tradition have helped them get into these positions,'' Sawyer said. ``But the experience of other soccer players has helped, too.
``The true soccer players want to come into their own and get their recognition. They want that recognition and they want that championship.''
Not only do the Falcons boast field hockey players in the Future's Program, but members of the Olympic Development soccer team as well.
The soccer program, which broke the .500 mark in 1990, has done a 180-degree turn in just two years time.
Robin Dwyer, the other half of the Falcons' dynamic scoring duo, says that Cox's winning ways in hockey has influenced the soccer team.
``We have that winning attitude from hockey and we've implemented it into soccer.''
Added Hale: ``It'd be nice if we could keep winning. During my freshman and sophomore years, you beat who you were supposed to beat and you lost to who you were supposed to lose to. It was really slack, and no one cared.
``Now we've got this whole new wave of talent. Last year we started to come together as a team. The attitude shifted and we want to win and go further.''
To do so, the Falcons will have to do what no other Beach girls soccer team has been able to accomplish in a state final: Beat a Northern Virginia team.
``The Northern Virginia teams have the reputation and the edge,'' Sawyer said. ``We're already the kind of underdog. No Beach team has pulled off a championship. I like them to believe they can do it and they're winners.
``This has already been a history-making season.'' by CNB