THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508050456
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
After a week of waiting, the Hampton Roads Mariners got the news they were dreading - the team failed to make the playoffs.
By virtue of Myrtle Beach's 4-3 win over Charleston Friday, the Boyz locked up fourth place in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues' Atlantic Division. Charlotte, which defeated Mobile, 1-0, held on to third.
``It's been a really tough week. . . . We felt we had clinched a playoff spot,'' said Mariners coach Sonny Travis, who found out early last week that Hampton Roads had lost points in the standings because the USISL overturned the team's protest of a loss to Myrtle Beach.
``It's been tough on the players and everyone involved in the Mariners, but you have to take your hat off to Myrtle Beach. They're a very hot team and they beat the top team in the division to get in (the playoffs).''
Both Hampton Roads and the Boyz finished with 119 points in the division standings. Myrtle Beach (13-7) advanced because it had beaten Hampton Roads twice.
``This is definitely a tough blow. I thought we played well enough this season to get into the playoffs,'' Mariners midfielder Leroi Wilson said.
Hampton Roads general manager Shawn McDonald said that the team is asking for official documentation from the league regarding the reason for overturning the protest. As of Friday, the Mariners only had a verbal notification of the USISL's decision. ILLUSTRATION: GAMEWATCH
PIRANHAS GAME
[For a copy of the schedule, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB