THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 6, 1995 TAG: 9511060188
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
On a chilly Sunday at Methodist College, Virginia Wesleyan's soccer season was put into deep freeze by a guy who knows a little about the cold.
Kari Reynisson, a native Icelander, might not have been credited with a goal in Methodist's 2-1 win. But everyone on hand knew he was the difference between two previously unbeaten teams in the NCAA Division III South Region final.
With No. 1 Methodist leading 1-0, Reynisson threaded his way up the left side past three defenders and bumped a perfect crossing pass to Sudi Naraine, whose header past keeper Scott Morgenroth was mere formality.
Reynisson had crossover-dribbled three times to get free of Wesleyan defenders Dwain Ayers, Che' Clark and David Zook.
``We hadn't seen anybody like that all year,'' Marlins coach Sonny Travis said. ``He was the difference.
``We don't have international scholarships. We're trying to win with American kids. There's a little bit of a difference when you get an Icelandic National Team player on your squad.''
Naraine's goal, coupled with Michael Scobee's goal less than five minutes into the game, marked the first time all season the No. 7 Marlins (18-1-1) had given up two goals in a game. In fact, they'd allowed only three goals total in their previous 19 games.
Despite the deficit, the Marlins didn't fold, front-loading their attack with forwards with 15 minutes to go to improve their offensive chances. Whitson pulled Virginia Wesleyan within one with his 14th goal of the season when he netted a crossing throw-in from Tommy Hipple with 6:16 left. But the Marlins could not score again.
``It's just unfortunate we had to meet so early,'' Travis said of the battle of the unbeatens.
Even Reynisson had a measure of the magnitude of this outcome.
``It's my first year, so I haven't seen it all,'' he said. ``But from everything the other guys have been saying, this might turn out to be our most important game if we win the championship.'' by CNB