THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 27, 1995 TAG: 9509270569
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Before Nansemond River field hockey player Kari Harrell lost her grandfather, he taught her a valuable lesson.
She learned that if she set a goal, she must do whatever possible to reach it.
When Harrell was in eighth grade, she saw Debra Rice, a prolific scorer from Poquoson, play field hockey and she set a goal to play at the same level.
``She was the best player, I watched her and I went home and practiced her moves, I wanted to be just like her,'' said Harrell.
Five years later she has achieved her goal.
Last week Harrell, a senior, broke Rice's Bay Rivers District career goal-scoring record by running her total to 57. Rice's previous mark was 56.
``I set a goal and made sure I finished it,'' said Harrell, the Virginian-Pilot female athlete of the week. ``I just wish my grandfather was here to see it. I feel really good about it.''
And so do her teammates, whom Harrell credits with the success behind her achievements.
``You know, if it wasn't for them, I would have never gotten this far,'' Harrell said.
That's not false humility, either.
``Kari feeds on what the rest of the team generates,'' said Warriors coach Bucky Payton. ``We don't keep any secrets in this district. Everybody knows who she is and she's well marked. People aren't going to give her breakaways.
``Most of her goals come off rebounds. Kari will pounce on it and whip it past the keeper.''
Harrell has been sticking it to Bay Rivers keepers for four years, averaging 18 goals a season and leading the league in scoring since she was a sophomore. She brought 53 goals into her senior year, falling short of Rice's record last year when Harrell and the Warriors were shut out in their final three games.
Harrell resumed her bid for the record last Wednesday when she scored both Nansemond River goals in a 2-1 win over Ferguson. The next day she tied, then passed, the mark with a pair of goals in a 7-1 rout of Warwick.
Fittingly, the record-breaker came on a rebound.
But just because she owns the record, doesn't mean the drive stops. Monday, she fired three goals at Lakeland as the Warriors came away with their first district win of the year.
And you can bet that her grandfather is proud. by CNB