THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604110121
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy. Hampton Roads Academy. Cape Henry Collegiate.
The Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools used to be a pushover when it came to lacrosse. Not anymore.
Five years ago, Norfolk Academy was terrorizing their less-competitive conference foes, then settled into the more competitive Virginia Prep League. Things in the TCIS are now changing. These three teams have stepped up their conditioning, toughened their players and conquered the mental game, heightening the level of play within the conference. Now, the three will battle for the right to claim the No. 1 slot.
Nansemond-Suffolk receives a slight nod in the preseason, returning seven starting players from their No. 3 team of last season, including six seniors.
``It's an excellent group as far as their willingness to work,'' coach Trent Blythe said. ``I have a nice, solid group of leaders in my three senior captains (Tom Oast, Nick Garbarino, Justin Verdirame). I have a core of returning seniors who are doing an outstanding job as well.''
But to win, the Saints must overcome a charged-up Cape Henry squad. Two years ago, coach Scott LeHew coached the junior varsity Dolphins to an 8-1 season. Now those players are juniors and LeHew has moved to the varsity. Their strength is their core of 10 returning players.
The Saints and Hampton Roads Academy have each added Norfolk Academy to their schedule this season.
The three-time defending state and Virginia Prep League Bulldogs show no signs of trailing off. Coach Tom Duquette returns ace attackman Drew McKnight, a two-time All-American who signed with the University of Virginia in the early signing period as the Bulldogs vie for a fourth straight championship.
Teams from The Virginian-Pilot's coverage area competing in lacrosse are:
Cape Henry
Coach: Scott LeHew
1995 record: 10-4, 5-2
Key performers: Matt Dancieders, jr., defender; Will Roundtree, sr., midfielder; Todd Feldman, so., midfielder; Scott Meredith, jr., attacker; Donald Patterson, jr., attacker; Mark Kelley, so., attacker; Preston Creech, jr., attacker; Scott Crocker, jr., goalkeeper.
Outlook: The Dolphins bring a solid unit of players who have bonded since the beginning of their junior varsity career. Dancieders is emerging as one of the area's top defenders and the team is fundamentally sound, both offensively and defensively. The Dolphins will challenge strongly for the title.
Catholic
Coach: Tom Edwards
1995 record: 1-10, 0-8
Key performers: Peter Buescher, so., attack; Mike Sachon, sr., defender; Neil Nacchio, fr., midfield; Peter Gundlach, jr., defender; Matt Lee, so., attack; John Padrick, fr., attack; Tony Papa, so., midfielder; Steven Mahoney, jr., goalkeeper; Steve Bannat, fr., midfielder; Brian Buckley, so., attack.
Outlook: The Crusaders enter their second season of lacrosse competition. According to Edwards, they have more ``cohesion, skill, talent, discipline, drive and self-expectation.'' Twenty-seven players and three coaches take the practice field each day. The Crusaders are looking to play a spoiler role in the TCIS battle this season.
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
Coach: Trent Blythe
1995 record: 5-10
Key performers: Tom Oast, sr., midfielder; Nick Garbarino, sr., attacker; Justin Verdirame, sr., goalkeeper; Trey Parker, jr., attacker; John Morgan, sr., attacker/midfielder; Garrett McGehee, sr., midfielder; Bryan Sharp, jr., midfielder; Will Webb, sr., defender; Ben Goins, sr., attacker; Jacob Johnson, jr., midfielder; Brian Pack, jr., midfielder.
Outlook: Blythe has stated the Saints' goals as winning the TCIS and receiving a bid to the state tournament. To pace the effort, he will rely on his six seniors, including All-state performer Oast and All-TCIS goalie Verdirame. The Crusaders bring an aggressive groundball game and a tenacous work ethic to the game.
Norfolk Collegiate
Coach: Larry Maddox
1995 record: 4-9, 4th TCIS
Key performers: Todd Sturdevant, jr., midfielder; Max Juren, soph., goalkeeper; Ken Flowers, sr., goalkeeper.
Outlook: Maddox is vague entering trhe season, pointing out he will let the Oaks' play speak for their talent. After finishing fourth last season, Collegiate is looking to improve and return to the postseason tournament.
In Virginia Prep League play:
Norfolk Academy
Coach: Tom Duquette
1995 record: 12-3
Key performers: Drew McKnight, sr., attacker; Jordan Jacobs, sr., midfielder; Russell Carter, sr., midfielder; Hunter Simms, jr., defender; Mac Brown, sr., attacker; Michael Toone, jr., goalkeeper.
Outlook: The three-time defending state champions are bolstered by the continued prowess of McKnight and the addition of Cape Henry transfer Brown. Duquette views his squad as offensively strong, but unstable defensively.
``We need to figure out how to stop people defensively at the end of the field,'' he said. ``We're still trying to figure out who goes where.''
The Bulldogs only had the luxury of three days of practice before their opening game.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Catholic
Coach: Moira Leavitt
1995 record: 0-7
Key performers: Lorna Tweed, sr., center; Brenna Rapp, sr., goalkeeper; Chesley Fentress, sr., cover point; Jessica Bowles, so., attack wing; Shannon Worrell, so, attack wing; Chrissy Forbes, so., defender; Nicole Gibson, so., attacker; Mary Ellen Price, so., midfielder; Elizabeth Rapp, so., first home; Diana Koucheravy, fr., midfielder; Lyndsay Worrell, fr., middle.
Outlook: In their second season, the Crusaders are looking to field a vastly improved team. Leavitt says six of her players have above-average speed and the team is exceptionally fast and skilled for beginners.
Norfolk Academy
Coach: Mary Werkheiser
1995 record: 7-6, 2-4
Key performers: Jodi Barr, sr., defender; Mary Burroughs, jr., midfielder; Ali George, jr., offense; Charisse Hipol, jr., midfielder; Laura Morgan, sr., midfielder; Kale Rieger, sr., offense; Kendra Robins, jr., defender; Stephanie York, sr., offense; Gretchen Cox, so., midfielder/goalkeeper; Mason White, so., midfielder.
Outlook: The Bulldogs return seven starters, including leading scorer York, second-leading scorer and assist leader Rueger and third-leading scorer George. Barr is expected to activate the defense and combine with the offensive stars to pace the Bulldogs to a top-two finish in the league. by CNB