THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 30, 1995 TAG: 9507300270
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
As the stadium loudspeaker at First Colonial High School blared the strains of Bachman Turner Overdrive's ``Taking Care of Business,'' the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team did exactly that, making their bid for the playoffs with a 5-1 rout of Washington on Saturday before a crowd of 1,421.
The Mariners (13-7) received nine points for the victory - six for winning the game and one each for their first three goals - the maximum allowable. Hampton Roads is third in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues' Atlantic Division with 119 points and can only be eliminated from the playoffs if Myrtle Beach scores three goals and defeats division-leading Charleston, and Charlotte scores at least one goal against Mobile. Both games are Friday.
``The guys have done everything they need to. Now we need some help from Charleston next week,'' Hampton Roads head coach Sonny Travis said.
Knowing exactly what they needed to accomplish, the Mariners wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Less than five minutes into play, John Dugan took a feed from Darren Eales and beat Washington keeper Jan DeWeer with a rocket just inside the far post from 12 yards out.
The Mustangs (7-11) scored the equalizer 8:50 into the first half on a shot by National B Team member Brian Chandler, who booted the ball past Mariners goalie Garth Lagerwey from 15 yards away.
Not to be outdone, Hampton Roads immediately went on the counterattack and took a 2-1 lead less than two minutes later.
Eales lined up for a free kick from 22 yards out on the right side of the field, sending the ball across the goal mouth to Dugan at the far post. Dugan headed the ball on goal, but the shot deflected off a Washington players' arm and banged off the crossbar. Forward Wayne Pratt was in the right place and scored from 6 yards out on a header that bounced off the ground and past DeWeer.
Eales, who leads the Mariners in scoring and is third in the USISL in goals, tallied his 23rd goal of the season in the 27th minute to put Hampton Roads ahead, 3-1.
``Last week we thought we were definitely in (the playoffs), because we thought we had a game coming to us from the protest,'' Eales said.
On Monday, the USISL reversed its decision to allow the team's protest of a loss with Myrtle Beach.
``It was pretty devastating when we found out. All we could do tonight was score three and win.''
The Mariners continued their offensive onslaught in the second half. In the 64th minute, Dugan fought for the ball deep in the Mustangs' end of the field and sent a cross to the front of the goal. Joe Hermann leaped with Washington keeper David Stapleton for the ball and got to it first, heading a shot into the net at point-blank range.
Defender Chris Love celebrated his 24th birthday by scoring the Mariners' final goal, his first of the season, on a header. Stapleton came out of position on a cross from his left side, punching the ball to the top of the penalty box.
``I was just standing there waiting for something to happen,'' Love said of his goal. ``I knew we had to score a certain amount of points. Coach (Travis) expected everyone to step it up tonight, and I'm just glad I could.''
The five goals against Washington were the most the Mariners have scored at home all season.
Hampton Roads closes out the regular season at home against the Richmond Kickers on Aug. 5. The game does not count toward the divisional standings. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MARK MITCHELL/Staff
Washington's Joshua Waldman slides in to steal the ball from the
Mariners' Ryan Lieb on Saturday at First Colonial High School.
by CNB