THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509210193
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 17 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 204 lines
IT'S HAPPENING already. And in a big way, too.
The Cox High field hockey team is picking up right where it left off last November - winning its sixth-straight Group AAA title and ninth overall.
Although the season is only four games old, it is more than apparent that the Falcons have a chance at living up to their potential. And that's scary, as there is talk that this year's team might be better than last year's.
No way. That team outscored opponents, 107-3. Of course, heading into last season, nobody thought any team in the state could be that dominant.
But Cox was.
The thought of this year's squad being better than last's is crurious in that the Falcons lost Kirsty Hale - the state's No. 2 career scorer. However, they return the leading scorer in state history in Kim Miller. Miller, who was a member of the Junior National team this summer, has opened the season with a bang, scoring 24 goals in the first four - 10 in one contest. It looks like Miller is on the road to easily topping her state-leading output of 50 goals in a season set last year. So far for her career, she has 121.
The Falcons had a 30-game winning streak heading into Thursday's game against Tallwood and are 88-1 over the last five years.
So there is every reason to believe it is going to be a tough season for Falcons opponents, but that's not to say Cox can attempt to coast. The Beach District is the best in the state and the Falcons have faced a Beach team in four of the last five state championship games.
There is also a new rule in effect this season - reduced-player overtime. After regulation play, each team takes the field for a 15-minute sudden-death period with seven players. Up to two overtimes will be played. If neither team has scored after the extra 30 minutes, the game will be ruled a tie.
Maury is again the favorite in the Eastern District.
Following is a look at Beach District field hockey teams:
BAYSIDE
Coach: Kathy Mustain.
Last year's record: 19-5, 8-1 in the district. Beach, Eastern Region and Group AAA state runner-up.
Returning starters: Dawn Bell, senior midfielder; Angie Hebron, senior midfielder; Amber Stout, senior back; Crystal Pickett, senior forward; Jennifer Winfree, senior back; Jenny Moricle, senior forward; Meredith Hughes, senior back; Jen Walter, senior keeper; Kay Anderson, junior midfielder; Kristin Stubbe, junior forward; Danielle Callender, sophomore back.
Top newcomers: Lori Gates, sophomore forward; Sasha Cochran, sophomore back; Robbie Bullock, sophomore forward.
Outlook: With so many returners from last year's successful team, the Marlins have every reason to think they can get back into the playoffs. Bell was second on the team in scoring last year and will have to push it up a notch with the graduation of leading scorer Quan Nim. Bell is up to the task at her midfield position and opposing teams will see her all over the field. Marlins again have good overall team speed and an excellent first-year coach in Kathy Mustain - formerly Fosina. Mustain is a Cox graduate and played on national championship teams at ODU as a keeper.
COX
Coach: Nancy Fowlkes.
Last year's record: 22-0, 9-0 in the district. Six-time defending state champion.
Returning starters: Jessica Barney, senior back; Meredith Benson, senior back, Lauren Crenshaw, senior midfielder; Robin Dwyer, senior midfielder; Kim Iman, senior keeper; Catherine McCallum, senior forward; Kim Miller, senior forward; Brianne Baylor, junior midfielder; Katie McDonald, junior forward, Ashley Sperry, junior midfielder.
Top newcomers: Karen Lamoureux, junior back; Katie Kubic, sophomore back.
Outlook: Miller is the most prolific scorer in state history and is off to a record-breaking start. She isn't the only threat, however. She
was a member of the junior national team, but two other players - McCallum and Dwyer - were selected for the national A camp. When opposing teams do get a shot at goal, Iman is there to stop.
``Yes, we can (be better than last year),'' said Fowlkes, the winningest coach in state history. ``We need leadership and we need more people to look to pass. But I do have the kind of high-caliber players it takes. I have five or six players who are legitimate Division I quality.''
FIRST COLONIAL
Coach: Traci McGrath.
Last year's record: 7-2 in the district.
Returning starters: Meghan James, senior forward; Lisa Neely, senior midfielder; Stephanie Yankes, senior forward; Emily Funk, senior back; Mary Dillon, senior sweeper; Lis O'Keeffe, senior midfielder; Ana Azizkhani, senior keeper; Helena Machaj, junior back; Jodi Bierman, junior back/forward.
Top newcomers: Hope Breckenridge, junior back/sweeper; Jennifer Ackerman, sophomore forward; Sabrina Fenton, sophomore midfielder/back; Lisa Gigliotti, sophomore forward.
Outlook: The Patriots, always competitive, look to be once again. There is lots of experience here from last year's third-place team.
``We know that only the best survive in our tough district,'' McGrath said. ``We've set our goals high and expect to be very competitive.''
GREEN RUN
Coach: Bonnie Courtney.
Last year's record: 3-6 in the district.
Returning starters: Valerie Wells, senior sweeper; Quiana Erb, senior midfielder; Kelley Linkous, senior forward; Jackie Quinn, senior forward; Annette Haas, senior back.
Top newcomers: Claudia Watt, junior midfielder; Stephannie Stamper, junior midfielder; Shakindala Davis, junior forward; Maria Calatian, junior forward; Danielle Yutzy, sophomore midfielder; Tiffany Bledsoe, junior midfielder.
Outlook: Davis and Calatian add speed and scoring ability to the Stallions, who need to overcome the inability to put the ball in the cage. Courtney says the team works well as a unit and should improve this season.
KELLAM
Coach: Holly Richbourg.
Last year's record: 5-4 in the district.
Returning starters: Kelly Anderson, junior back; Mandy Arnett, junior forward; Elizabeth Howard, junior forward; Reina Cruz, junior forward; Amanda Keith, junior keeper; Amanda Michiewicz, senior midfielder; Kristin Traynor, senior midfielder; Tina Whitaker, senior back.
Top newcomers: Wendy Garrett, sophomore forward; Bobbie McGuire, senior back, Courtney Bailey, junior forward; Meghan Guthrie, junior back; Amanada Snow, sophomore forward/midfielder.
Outlook: The Knights could improve with a large number of returning players who will be joined by several talented newcomers.
KEMPSVILLE
Coach: Sarah Taylor.
Last year's record: 6-3 in the district.
Returning starters: Lesley St. Denis, senior forward; Pam McKinney, senior forward; Melissa Pence, senior back; Laura Steadman, junior forward; Monica Frey, junior forward; Katie Sullivan, junior back; Wendy Williams, junior back.
Top newcomers: Amanda Nichols, sophomore back; Lauren Rafal, sophomore keeper.
Outlook: The Chiefs are joined by several players who played on last year's JV championship team, but the team overall is young.
OCEAN LAKES
Coach: Yogi Boothe.
Last year's record: 0-9 in the district.
Returning starters: Melanie Panza, senior forward; Miranda Groomes, senior back; Robin Backus, junior back; Terry Soules, senior back; Alyssa Schropp, junior keeper.
Top newcomers: None mentioned.
Outlook: Schropp is a top-notch keeper and will have to perform to keep the Dolphins in games this year. A third-place finish in the Salem Invitational has helped with confidence.
PRINCESS ANNE
Coach: Denise O'Connell.
Last year's record: 1-8 in the district.
Returning starters: Laura Clayton, senior forward; Kelly Maher, senior back; Carmen Scott, senior forward; Anne-Marie Watson, senior back; Meghan Kaminski, junior forward; Krista Elmore, sophomore forward.
Top newcomers: Britney Ewers, junior keeper; Crystal Mateqek, junior forward; Jamie Durbin, junior back; Michelle Ferrigno, junior forward.
Outlook: The team is young and inexperienced, but worked hard together over the summer and in camps to prepare. O'Connell admits, however, that it will likely be a tough season.
SALEM
Coach: Sally Scarborough.
Last year's record: 3-6 in the district.
Returning starters: Kelly King, senior foward; Jenny Peters, junior foward; Rizalyn Asperin, junior forward; Rebecca Hedderich, senior forward; Michelle Pritchard, senior keeper; Angela Angeles, junior midfielder; Catie Peters, junior back; Heather Branson, senior back; Jennifer Kim, senior midfielder; Stacey Shubra, junior forward.
Top newcomers: Lauren Sparrow, sophomore back; Sarah Hirst, sophomore midfielder; Page McGranahan, sophomore forward; Tammy Potter, junior back.
Outlook: The team is loaded with returning players and that will play a big factor if the Sun Devils are to improve over last year.
TALLWOOD
Coach: Jaudon Felch.
Last year's record: 4-5 in the district.
Returning starters: Naomi Muha, senior back; Maricel Eusebio, senior forward; Melanie Harris, senior back; Becky Huffman, senior keeper; Erin O'Brien, senior forward; Claire Reyes, junior back; Heather Kinstler, junior back; Jen Cope, junior forward.
Top newcomers: Jeanette DeJesus, junior forward; Joyce Baylon, junior forward; Colleen Bradley, junior forward.
Outlook: Another team with enough returning players to improve - a move that would put the Lions in contention for the playoffs. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
``Yes, we can (be better than last year),'' says Cox coach Nancy
Fowlkes. ``. . . I have five or six players who are legitimate
Division I quality.''
Senior forward
Kim Inman
Senior keeper
Robin Dwyer
Senior midfielder
Catherine McCallum
Senior forward
Katie McDonald
Junior forward
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Katie McDonald, a junior forward, and some of her teammates practice
ball control in a drill at Cox High.
by CNB