THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 17, 1996 TAG: 9604170558
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
In a hotly contested Beach boys soccer race that consists of only nine games, there is almost an urgency to win every time out.
Tuesday on its own field, Kellam pounded that point home to Cox with a 4-1 decision that leaves the Knights firmly in command of first place.
The victory was extra special in that it is believed to be Kellam's first over Cox since boys soccer competition started in 1977.
Third-ranked Kellam moved to 3-0 in the district, 7-1-1 overall, while No. 2 Cox dropped to 1-1 and 3-2.
The Knights shocked the Falcons, striking early and building a 3-0 lead.
Ryan Key opened the barrage when he took control of a beautifully-placed crossing pass from Jay Gunia and blasted a shot past Cox keeper Colin Kibler from about 30 yards out.
Minutes later, Chris Phelan tossed a perfect flip pass from out of bounds to the waiting head of Ed Stockunas on the far post.
Then, a little more than midway through the half, Key and Jason Bonnett found themselves in a two-one-two race to the Cox goal.
About 25 yards out, Key knocked a short header pass from the right side over the two defenders and Bonnett smashed a shot from the left side to the far right corner of the goal.
While some in the stands were dazed, none of the Kellam players were.
``We are underrated by a lot of teams,'' Stockunas said. ``But we've got so much talent and we were prepared.
``Nobody on this team is surprised.''
Cox finally got on the board late in the first half after Pat Kilkenny was tripped in the box - setting up Gordon Peters' penalty blast past Kellam keeper Tim Wheaton.
But the Falcons could gain no momentum going into halftime and Kellam almost completely controlled a second half played in a cold, wind-driven rain.
And just to make sure they didn't, Stockunas added a second goal for the final score on a play that rubbed salt into an already deep Cox wound. On the play, Dustin Keesee passed into the box and a Cox player attempted to head the ball out. Instead, the ball skirted backwards where Stockunas headed it in from about five yards out.
``They played better,'' Falcons coach Jim Snodgrass said. ``They attacked with enthusiasm and played a style we hadn't seen from them before.'' by CNB