THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507120509
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
United States Olympic coach Timo Liekowski has a year to hone his team for the Atlanta Games. What he saw Tuesday night at First Colonial High School left him wondering whether that's time enough.
The Hampton Roads Mariners handed the U.S. Under 23 National Team its third consecutive loss, 2-0, in the first of two exhibitions in Hampton Roads for the Olympic developmental team.
The U.S. meets the Trinidad and Tobago Under 23 team Saturday at Old Dominion.
A crowd estimated at 2,000 lustily cheered first-half goals by Mark Waite and Joe Hermann and was was able to depart happy.
Not so for Liekowski, who saw his team take just one shot on goal in the first half.
``We made a lot of elementary mistakes,'' Liekowski said. ``We're not getting enough shots.
``I'm very concerned. We've lost three in a row and haven't scored a goal in three games. That's very disappointing.
``We are missing a number of players who will be on the Olympic team and we're using (the summer tour) to look at a lot of players. But if these players are Olympic performers, they have to produce better.
``The standard of play in the Olympics is much, much higher than the game played tonight.''
The U.S. opened the summer with a seven-game tour in which it went unbeaten. After a short break, it began its current five-game trip with a 2-1 victory over Chile's Under 23 team.
But the U.S. then lost, 3-0, to Long Island, like Hampton Roads a member of the USISL, and then was drubbed by Chile, 4-0.
It has been a grueling summer for the U.S. team, said A.J. Wood, the former Virginia star, but he added that is no excuse for the team's poor play.
``There are thousands of people who would love to play for this team, to be in our position,'' he said. ``To lose three in a row, to be shut out three games in a row, that's very disappointing.''
Mariners' coach Sonny Travis, meanwhile, was beaming at game's end. Former U.Va. star Nate Fisher had his best game for the Mariners since being signed on June 20. He notched an assist on a crossing pass to Hermann and had several point-blank shots rejected by U.S. goaltender Chris Snitko.
Garth Lagerway was near-perfect in goal for the Mariners in collecting his first shutout in seven games.
Travis changed his team's lineup from a 4-4-2 (four forwards, four midfielders, two defenders) to a 3-5-2 (five midfielders) ``to get more speed on the field.''
The change worked, especially in the first half, when the Mariners consistently sent long passes toward the U.S. goal and outhustled their opponents to the ball.
``These guys have been through three quarters of a pro season,'' Travis said of the Mariners. ``Maybe that says something about professional soccer.''
Wood said the loss says nothing good about the U.S. team, which is scheduled to have a day off today to go to Busch Gardens.
``Given how we'd been playing, this was a must win and we lost,'' he said. ``Coach is pretty concerned, I'm sure. I wonder if we'll practice tomorrow instead of going to Busch Gardens.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
L. TODD SPENCER
Mac Cozier, left, of the U.S. Under-23 national team goes up against
Nate Friends, top, and Matt Kirk of Hampton Roads.
by CNB