THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070413
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
As the Maury field hockey team awaits an opponent in the Eastern Region tournament, which begins today at Cox, Katie Roman will try to motivate a Commodores team nearly everyone expects to lose in the playoffs.
Maury has won every Eastern District title since 1979 and received a bye into Wednesday's semifinal, where the Commodores (11-3) will meet the winner of today's quarterfinal between Bayside (13-2) and Lafayette (9-3). But despite its domination in the district, Maury has never made it past region competition.
As the team's motivator, Roman knows fighting history will be difficult.
``It gets frustrating sometimes,'' said Roman, a senior and four-year member of the team. ``We work so hard all year long and win the district and then it's like it all gets thrown away.
``It's hard to motivate yourself and your team to go out and play one of these incredible teams that just kills everybody they play.''
In recent years, coach Pat Panzik has scheduled Beach and Peninsula opponents early in the season in an effort to improve competition. But there are other limitations that cause Norfolk teams to suffer - no middle school or junior varsity programs and no out-of-school leagues.
``Playing the other teams has helped a little,'' said Roman, who has collected five goals and seven assists this fall. ``It has given us a chance to see what level of play it takes to win at this level. We did pretty good in the Tabb tournament and it helped us a lot, I think.''
In Bayside or Lafayette, Maury will have its hands full. The Marlins were last year's state runner-up and have lost only to Cox. The Rams have - like Maury - been a perennial part of the region tournament.
To make matters worse, the Commodores will be without center forward Amy Mayer, the team's leading scorer, out with a torn meniscus (knee cartilage).
``But we think we've gotten better this year,'' said Roman, who is also one of the area's top female soccer players. ``I think we'll have a better chance than in the past. We're better as a team and everybody can rely on everybody better now.''
While she sees herself as a motivational leader, her right wing position makes her a leader on the field as well.
``She's the one that gets the play started,'' Panzik said. ``She does the work and does it in a way that people notice. She has the ability to bring the other kids up.
``She needs to play well for us to do well, especially with Amy out of action.''
And because she doesn't want history to repeat itself any more.
Bayside will face Lafayette at 2 p.m. today with the winner taking on Maury at 2 p.m. Wednesday. In today's other quarterfinal, Lake Taylor (10-3) and Tabb (13-2) play at noon. The winner faces six-time defending Group AAA champion Cox (16-0) at noon Wednesday.
The championship - from which both teams will advance to the state tournament - will be at 2 p.m. Thursday.
All region tournament games are being played at Cox. ILLUSTRATION: ``I think we'll have a better chance than in the past,'' Maury
field hockey player Katie Roman said.
by CNB