THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508060254
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Unable to shake off the effects of missing the playoffs, the Hampton Roads Mariners soccer team looked lethargic Saturday against Richmond, losing to the Kickers, 3-2, at First Colonial High School.
The game was classified as an exhibition. The Mariners closed out their second season in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues with a 13-7 record.
``I thought we put the effort in (tonight). We could have come out and sat back,'' said forward Darren Eales, the Mariners' leading scorer. ``No matter how you dress it up, we knew we weren't going to be playing after tonight.''
The Mariners waited the week to find out if they had made the playoffs in the Atlantic Division. With Myrtle Beach and Charlotte both winning on Friday, Hampton Roads fell out of playoff contention.
``We kind of shot ourselves in the foot by having to rely on Myrtle Beach to lose in order to make the playoffs,'' said Mariners captain Mark Waite, who returned to the field after missing three games due to illness. ``It was tough tonight knowing nothing was on the line.''
All five goals were scored in the second half.
Both teams seemed subdued in the opening minutes. Richmond (15-3) was without both of its regular keepers and was forced to start defender Michael Brady in goal. Brady was never seriously tested and saved Hampton Roads' only shot on goal.
Midfielder Brian Kamler took over for Brady in the second half and was tested immediately when Eales charged in on goal. Eales shot from about five yards out, but Kamler was in position.
Later, Kamler showed his skills by coming out to control two serves into the box my midfielder Brandon Ward, keeping Mariners scoring threats from materializing.
Richmond took a 1-0 lead in the 65th minute on a rocket shot from Khary Stockton, who sent a bullet toward the net from the right corner of the box and beat Garth Lagerwey inside the far post.
Kamler made two saves on solid shots by Waite before Ward finally got a ball through, scoring the equalizer with 17 minutes left on a shot from 18 yards out.
From there, Richmond forward Rob Ukrop took over. Ukrop, the Kickers' leading scorer, gave Richmond a 2-1 lead with nine minutes left on a shot right in front of Lagerwey, then connected again from close range less than a minute later on a defensive lapse.
Eales scored with four minutes left on an assist by Waite, but that was it for the Mariners.
``I don't think we played intelligently tonight, and we weren't sharp. There were a lot of mental reasons for that, but we should have been able to overcome them,'' coach Sonny Travis said. ``We broke through in the end, but by then it was too late.'' by CNB