THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 1996 TAG: 9605010610
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Athletes of the Week
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
Up until seven days ago, Kellam striker Amanda Mickiewicz had never scored more than two goals in a high school soccer game. In fact, she'd scored only two all season.
So it's hardly surprising the Knights senior co-captain didn't quite know what to say after delivering five goals in one half of Kellam's 6-3 upset over Salem.
``I can't really remember how they all happened,'' she said. ``It was all a blur.''
So was Mickiewicz, according to Kellam coach Steve Schmitter.
``It was quite a performance,'' he said.
A performance that earned Mickiewicz The Virginian-Pilot's Female Athlete of the Week award.
And it couldn't have come at a better time for the Knights, who were reeling from a team-wide slump which had them wondering whether scoring goals was something that only happened to other teams.
In two games the previous week, the Knights were outscored 12-0 by Beach District heavyweights Tallwood and Cox. The defeats triggered whispers of selfish play and me-first attitudes within the group, prompting a no-holds-barred team meeting in an attempt to salvage the season.
``I bared my soul in that meeting, and the players bared their souls,'' Schmitter said.
Still, it looked like tough talk was cheap throughout the first half against Salem. Energized by a 15- to 20-mph wind at their backs, the Sun Devils dominated the first 40 minutes, reduced Mickiewicz to a spectator and sprinted into the halftime break with a 3-0 lead.
``We were pretty down at that point,'' Mickiewicz said. ``It looked like it was going to happen again.''
But after a few words from Schmitter, the Knights regrouped. Perhaps most importantly, they realized that for the next 40 minutes they had the wind.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Mickiewicz scored to bring Kellam within two. Seven minutes later, she scored again.
After a game-tying goal by Jana O'Brien, Mickiewicz slipped in alone and beat the Kellam keeper to give the Knights the lead. Sixty seconds later, another breakaway, another goal. She capped the scoring with an 18-yard blast in the final minute.
Suddenly, the Knights are talking about winning the rest of their games.
``That's what Amanda did for us,'' Schmitter said. ``The meeting had brought everyone together again. Amanda just spurred us on.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
by CNB