THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605080136
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, SUN SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
NOT MANY TEAMS with a .500 record would be looking forward to the postseason. But few teams have endured a schedule like that of the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy lacrosse team, which has played - and lost to - each of the state's top four ranked teams.
``That's the hardest schedule I've played since I've been on varsity,'' said senior Tom Oast, whose team has played St. Anne's (No. 1 at the time), Norfolk Academy (No. 2), St. Christopher's (No. 3) and Collegiate of Richmond (No. 4). ``I guess you always get better playing the hardest teams. You get lazy if you play easy teams all the time.''
Despite losing to each of those top four teams by an average of nearly 13-5, the Saints (7-7 overall, 7-1 Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools) tied Hampton Roads Academy for the regular season title in the TCIS. The Saints will try to keep rolling today in the TCIS tournament at Hampton Roads Academy. The Saints lost a coin toss for the top seed and will play No. 4 Cape Henry at 7:30 p.m.
Perhaps the player that took the most punishment during the Saints' brutal schedule was senior goalie Justin Verdirame.
``It can get frustrating once they start piling on the goals,'' said Verdirame. ``But, you just keep your head up and try to take the positives from it. It's helped us improve so much.''
That's evident from Verdirame's stats in the last several games. After allowing 55 goals in games against the state's top four teams, he gave up just four in a win over Norfolk Collegiate on Friday and four against Cape Henry on Monday, which clinched the first place tie.
``He definitely got shelled early,'' said coach Trent Blythe, ``but he's done an outstanding job. On several (recent) occasions, he's kept us in it.''
Oast, Verdirame and Nick Garbarino were named first team All-TCIS in a balloting of league coaches. Trey Parker and Garrett McGhee were named to the second team. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Trey Parker, left, makes the throw despite defensive attempts in a
recent match.
by CNB