THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 22, 1995 TAG: 9506220643
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 46 lines
Hampton Roads will get a double dose of high-caliber soccer in July, as the U.S. under-23 national team will make two appearances here in a five-day span.
On July 11, the U.S. national team, prepping for the 1996 Olympics, will take on the Hampton Roads Mariners at 7:30 p.m. at a site to be determined. And on July 15 at 7 p.m. the Old Dominion University soccer stadium will be the site of the U.S. national team's match against the Trinidad and Tobago national squad.
``Having two games here like this is pretty unique,'' Mariners general manager Shawn McDonald said. ``It's not something that happens too many times.''
The 18-man U.S. Under-23 national team, coached by Timo Liekowski, will be selected from a pool of 22 that includes University of Virginia stars Brandon Pollard, Mike Fisher, Damian Silvera, Billy Walsh, Clint Peay and A.J. Wood.
The Mariners, a professional team in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues, have a 9-2 record and are eagerly anticipating their match with the national team, McDonald said.
``Our players can't wait,'' he said. ``Some of them think they're capable of playing on that team.''
The Mariners play their home games at the Center for Effective Learning in Virginia Beach, but are also considering Old Dominion and First Colonial High School as sites to host the national team.
The game against Trinidad and Tobago will mark the Under-23 national team's first appearance in Norfolk since 1992, when the squad tied Bermuda, 1-1, before 4,500 fans at sold-out ODU.
``I see this as just another indication of how soccer is really growing in this area,'' said Karen Knott, executive director of the Hampton Roads Soccer Council.
Trinidad and Tobago will be one of five international opponents for the U.S. Under-23 team this summer. The squad will also play in July's U.S. Olympic Festival.
Tickets are available through the ODU ticket office (683-4444), the Hampton Roads Soccer Council office (456-0578) and local soccer stores. by CNB