THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605080112
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Biff Andrews is back coaching the Churchland girls again after missing three games because of an exchange trip to Russia. In his absence, the Truckers went 3-0 under assistant Peggy Powers.
Andrews is tickled at how well his young team, with 16 freshmen and sophomores, has withstood the competition. The Truckers played what Andrews calls ``rock 'em, sock 'em soccer'' against Southeastern District champion Great Bridge, and came out with a 1-0 loss.
``Our kids just hang in there and play with guts,'' Andrews said.
Churchland's strength is defense, led by Kat Crandall, Dorothy Laskin and Kate Foley. ``We can stay with anybody,'' Andrews says. ``We can stop people from scoring. We just have trouble scoring ourselves.''
And with the Truckers carrying 24 on their roster, you wouldn't think Andrews would worry about depth. But should Churchland make the district final on May 16, he will be without five of his players who are going to Florida as part of the school's chorus.
Ironically, one of them is keeper Courtney Hundley, who missed her final basketball game during regionals because of a goodwill trip to Guyana.
Great Bridge clinched the Southeastern District regular-season title last Friday with a win over Churchland, but the Wildcats are hurting without leading scorer Jennifer Hilborn, who has eight goals and nine assists this spring. Hilborn is out for the season after suffering a muscle tear May 1 against Oscar Smith.
``Not only was she a scoring threat, she could play midfield, defense,'' said coach Harvey Regan. ``We've lost a little versatility without her, plus she's a good finisher.''
Without Hilborn, freshman Casey Miller will carry the offensive load. Miller has seven goals and six assists.
Great Bridge already knows its regional fate. The Wildcats will play the Peninsula's second seed, expected to be Lafayette, in the quarterfinals May 20 at Salem.
Wilson continues to struggle, with its losses in the double digits, but keeper Pam Willie is among the team's bright spots. Coach Dan Lewandowski recruited Willie, a freshman, from his earth science class.
``She has good physical size and really good hands,'' he said. ``When she lays into the ball, she can hammer it.''
Willie is a good punter, averaging 55 to 60 yards, and her reflexes are excellent.
That's a help with the ball in her end of the field for most of the games. Western Branch outshot Wilson 41-0 en route to the Bruins' 5-0 win.
Norfolk Academy continues to dominate the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools and it looks like Bulldogs coach Kevin Sims will depart the school without a loss in the league. Sims is moving to Chattanooga, Tenn., this summer to be closer to family and his hometown, Atlanta. He will coach soccer there at the McCallie School, an all-boys high school.
Norfolk Academy is 144-0-1 in the TCIS since Sims took over the program 15 years ago. The lone tie was back in 1983 against Catholic, and ironically, Sims served as an official during the game. Sims recalls it being Sports Festival Day at Academy, with every team having a home game scheduled. Soccer was moved to earlier in the afternoon to accommodate some of the other games, and no official was available. By gentlemen's agreement, Sims took the field.
``I wasn't allowed to have any contact with the girls on my team,'' he said. ``And back then I had no assistants.''
The final score on penalty kicks: 2-2.
Last Friday's Princess Anne/Kempsville game was a case of Rafal/Rafal versus Rafal. Jessica and Lauren Rafal play for Kempsville; their dad, Jerry, coaches Princess Anne.
``They wouldn't talk to me before the game,'' said Jerry Rafal. ``Luckily I knew their style.''
Lauren is Kempsville's leading scorer, and Jessica is one of three freshmen on the varsity squad.
``He marked me really tight; I couldn't do much,'' Lauren said. ``He knows how me and my sister play, and we know how he coaches.''
Neither Rafal managed to score against dad's team, but Kempsville still won the game 3-1, and Jerry Rafal said he never secretly rooted for either of his daughters. ``I figured we needed the game more than Kempsville,'' he said.
Afterward, both girls gave their dad hugs. ``Nice game,'' Lauren told him. by CNB