THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511160610
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Lee Tolliver
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Look familiar?
Yes. . . . the Cox field hockey team posing for championship pictures is getting to be rather commonplace.
Friday's Eastern Region crown was the team's fifth straight. And the Falcons have posed for a similar shot six consecutive times at the state championship.
They'll be looking to make it seven beginning Thursday when they travel with Bayside to the Group AAA tournament at Oakton High in Northern Virginia's Fairfax County.
Over the years, the faces have changed, but the almost inevitable result has not.
And there is little to no reason to believe that Cox won't continue its run of state championships.
Another picture for the scrapbook pending.
The numbers are just too overwhelmingly in the Falcons' favor. In years past, Cox has run through the state tournament with only slight competition.
And this year's squad is touted by the coaching staff as the best-ever. Record-setting performances in several state and national categories add validity to their beliefs.
There's Kim Miller on her climb in the season and career scoring records. She's third in both categories and could move into the second spot for the season with 10 more goals. Her average of 3.33 goals a game this season is No. 1 in national history. Her career average of 2.01 is second. Her streak of 17 games with at least one goal is third and her 10 goals in one game is second.
Then there's Catherine McCallum, an extremely unselfish right winger known for sending great crossing passes into the scoring circle. McCallum is tied for the top spot for assists in a season with 33 and should break that mark in the state tournament. Career-wise, her total of 58 is ranked No. 2.
Keeper Kim Iman is also in the national record books. Heading into state, her career shutout total of 51 is second. She had a streak of 13 shutouts that ranks third all-time.
And let's not forget coach Nancy Fowlkes, whose 286 career victories ranks in the top 10.
And the team in general is there as well.
Cox holds the record for consecutive state championships with six and is tied for second all-time with nine. A win in this year's tournament would tie Cox for first.
The Falcons' winning streak of 58, broken in 1993, ranks fifth and the current streak of 45 is seventh. Last year's output of 107 goals is 10th all-time and this year's 129 is fourth and counting.
This season, Cox is averaging 7.17 goals a game - second in national history.
While Cox is the team with the numbers, Bayside has everything in the world to hold its head up about.
The Marlins' only losses in two years have been at the sticks of Cox and many have come in district, region and the state tournament championship games.
For Bayside to be returning to the state tournament is a victory in itself - what with the loss of the team's top scorer in Quan Nim and a coaching change.
While Kathy Mustain is a fantastic coach with tons of credentials, the credit goes to the players.
The Marlins are loaded with some of the best athletes in the district and the hope here is for a rematch of last year's state final.
In Thursday's quarterfinals, Cox will face Northern Region runner-up South Lakes at 2:30 p.m., while Bayside will go up against Northern champion Lake Braddock at 12:30 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY
Staff photo by MOTOYA NAKAMURA
Friday's Eastern region crown was Cox High's fifth straight. The
Falcons have posed for similar photo opportunities six consecutive
times at the state championship.
by CNB