THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 17, 1996 TAG: 9605170682
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
There was aggressive soccer on a muddy field, but no upsets Thursday night in the Southeastern District soccer championships at Western Branch.
Boys regular-season champion Deep Creek stormed to the tournament title with a 6-0 victory over Churchland. Great Bridge's girls soccer team also added a tournament crown to their regular-season title. The Wildcats nipped Oscar Smith 2-0.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night was that Western Branch athletic director Chris Ake held the game when virtually every other sports matchup in the area was canceled due to weather.
In the opening showdown, Hornets' goalkeeper Nick Shockley maintained the formidable form he has demonstrated all season. He nabbed seven saves en route to his eighth shutout of the year.
He and scoring ace Joe Verdi were the one-two punch that decimated the Truckers. After allowing two quick goals, the Truckers held the 2-0 gap until the final 10 minutes of the game. Verdi assisted senior Kevin Klewer's opening goal then scored on two breakaways for a 3-0 edge.
``I was a little concerned after Churchland beat Great Bridge 1-0 (in the semifinals) then came out in the first half really aggressive,'' Deep Creek coach Jamie Fraser said. ``In the first, they outplayed us at times. Nick Shockley, he's been instrumental to our success. I'm pleased with all of the guys.''
The Hornets were unstoppable in the closing minutes with Chad Parker scoring two goals and Cory Boone slipping in a shot.
``It was good. Everybody played well,'' Verdi said. ``We dominated the game. I was just trying to finish and put the ball in the goal.''
In girls action, the Wildcats completed an undefeated district season with the championship. Oscar Smith keeper Jamie Burke was challenged from the opening minute, fighting attacking forwards for the ball in the box. The game was scoreless until 17:52 of the first half, when Kelly Hales ripped a scoring shot on a pass from Jessie Berdick.
``It was a well-fought game,'' Oscar Smith coach John Kraemer said. ``Great Bridge was a little more aggressive and on the ball.''
The Wildcats struck again with less than five minutes remaining. Burke caught a piece of Berdick's shot, but it trickled past her outstretched hand into the net.
``I thought Oscar Smith, as always, did a real good job,'' Great Bridge coach Harvey Regan said.
The Wildcats were missing leading scorer Jennifer Hilborn, who is out for the season with a hip injury.
In the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools girls tournament, Norfolk Academy and Norfolk Collegiate advanced with semifinal victories. The two clash Saturday at 4 p.m. at Norfolk Academy for the title.
Academy advanced with an 8-0 semifinal victory over Cape Henry. Carrie Evans paced the assault with four goals. Angela Hucles netted three with two assists and Dominique Carnelle added one. The Bulldogs outshot the Dolphins 39-2.
Brooke Cooper's two goals sparked the Oaks' 2-0 win over Norfolk Christian. The Oaks are making their first appearance in the championship game.
Keeper Chelsea Dailey had four saves in her fourth consecutive shutout. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MIKE HEFFNER, The Virginian-Pilot
Great Bridge's Kia Bell, center, and Kelly Hales, left, race Oscar
Smith's Dianna Golt to the ball during the Wildcats' 2-0 tournament
victory. Hales and Jessie Berdick had a goal apiece for Great
Bridge, which also won the regular-season title.
by CNB