THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9604300136
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Maury's goal at the start of the season was to win back the Eastern District boys soccer title it lost to Granby three years ago.
With that nearly accomplished, the Commodores coach, Mohsin Bouziane, is starting to set his sights on an Eastern Region tournament where the team has never done well.
``We beat (No. 1-ranked First Colonial) at the beginning of the season and (No. 3 Kellam) tied us in the last few minutes of that game,'' Bouziane said. ``Those are two of the best teams in the area, and we did well.
``So I think we'll do well outside the district.''
With three district games heading into Tuesday's match against winless Booker T., the race was Maury's to win or lose.
Three-time defending champion Granby is the only apparent contender and the Commodores defeated the Comets 4-1 in the first meeting. Even if Maury loses to Granby in the May 7 season finale for the Commodores, Maury would probably still win the title on the goals-allowed tie breaking system being used.
``They've allowed only one district goal, and we've already allowed six,'' Granby coach Mike Kennedy said. ``We'll need to beat them 5-0 or better to keep the title.''
While winning the title is important to Maury, it will make little difference come region time, when the Eastern District must face teams from the powerful Beach District in the first round May 20. And either way, Eastern teams will have to travel outside the city.
``I think we have a very strong chance to win the district and that will help for the playoffs,'' Bouziane said. ``We're looking forward to it.''
Aaron Katrancha has been the leading player for the Commodores thus far this season. The senior defender has been instrumental in the team allowing only 12 goals in 11 games.
Katrancha's play has afforded Bouziane the luxury of sending keeper Aaron Neatherly out onto the playing field when Maury meets weaker opponents. Brent Sentr plays goal when Neatherly plays a field position.
``(Neatherly) has even scored several goals for us,'' Bouziane said.
Hank Morton has been the leading scorer, getting help from baseball player Aaron Ambrose and freshman Chris Peters.
Midfielder Parker Consaul and defender Evans Poston also have played well.
And the healing knee of junior defender Michael Glover is boosting playoff confidence.
``He'll likely be ready at the end of the season, and he'll be a tremendous help to us,'' Bouziane said.
Granby has bounced back well since its loss to Maury, winning its next three games by a 14-0 advantage. One of those wins was by 1-0 over a defensively strong Bayside team.
``That loss was a wakeup for our team,'' Kennedy said. ``We're working harder at practice, and we're playing very nicely. We're showing more heart on the field.''
Joe Tumminelli and Jarrod Hauber each have seven goals and freshman Eric Bates is showing ``remarkable poise for his age,'' Kennedy said.
While it might not make any difference who wins the title, Kennedy predicts a different game when Granby and Maury face off at season's end.
``The kids had them beaten before we walked on the field, and I think they were better than the kids thought they'd be,'' Kennedy said. ``I think it will be a different game.'' by CNB