THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130578
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
Ocean Lakes' Melanie Panza ventured into unchartered waters in last Friday's field hockey opener against Green Run. But the senior midfielder managed to find her way.
Panza, whose team won only two games last season, found the back of the net in a reduced-player double overtime to give the Dolphins a 2-1 victory over the Stallions.
Ocean Lakes and Green Run became the first teams in the Beach District to test the newly implemented overtime rule which has trickled down from the college ranks.
In a reduced player overtime, each team takes the field for a 15-minute sudden-death period with seven players - six up front and a keeper. Should the teams fail to score in a second overtime, the game would end in a tie or, in the case of tournament play, go to penalty strokes.
According to Ocean Lakes coach Yogi Boothe, the new rule should speed up overtime play.
``If you have a shorter number of people and take away offsides, the game's going to end quickly,'' Boothe said. ``But the girls get tired. Both teams played really hard. We tried to sub as much as we could and at one point, I asked Melanie if she wanted to come out.''
Panza declined, but admitted she was winded.
``I caught myself jogging,'' she said. ``Then my teammate Miranda Groomes said, `You're not tired.' Sometimes it takes another teammate to pick you up.''
On the next play, it was Panza's turn to pick up her Dolphins. And for her efforts, she has earned The Virginian-Pilot's female athlete of the week award.
Panza got a breakaway, beat a Green Run defender down the right side of the field and blasted a shot into the net.
``Oh, it was beautiful,'' Boothe said. ``She's a very determined and dedicated player.''
``It (the win) helps us so much mentally,'' Panza said. ``But it's not really whether you win or lose. It's how you fight. I think that says a lot for us.''
It also says a lot that the Dolphins haven't practiced the new overtime rule except once, in a scrimmage against Kempsville.
``I didn't really prepare them for it,'' Boothe said. ``I know that if they get to that situation, they're going to be physically prepared. I think it's hard, but I like it as a coach, athlete and competitor.''
But Panza was ready nonetheless. by CNB