THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230516
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 50 lines
Cox vs. Kempsville again.
The Beach District's best girls soccer teams, ranked 1-2 in South Hampton Roads, both advanced to next week's state tournament with Eastern Region semifinal victories Wednesday evening, but first they must play each other for a third time this season to decide the region championship.
The Chiefs routed Tabb 5-1 in the first game of a doubleheader at Salem High School. The Falcons knocked out Great Bridge 5-0.
``These are the types of games you play for,'' said Cox senior Natalie Stumpf, who had two goals and an assist on the night. ``I am so looking forward to this game. It's just going to be amazing.''
``This will be six times in two years we've played them,'' said Kempsville coach Ed Hackett. ``They could play 11 times a season and there'd never be any problem getting up for Cox.''
Cox (17-3) and Kempsville (14-3-2) have split a pair of 1-0 decisions this spring, with the Chiefs winning last week for the district tournament title. They'll play at 5:30 p.m. Friday to determine which team enters the state tournament as the region's top seed. The winner will earn home-field advantage for Tuesday's state quarterfinal.
``We know how they play, so we should be able to step up our game and play the way we know how to play,'' said Kempsville's Jennifer Baker, who had two assists vs. Tabb.
Against the Peninsula District-champion Tigers (13-5), Kempsville took a 2-0 lead on goals by Lauren Rafal and Johannah Thompson.
Kempsville outshot Tabb 23-5, but Hackett said his team got lazy with its passes thanks to the early edge. ``We really picked it up in the second half,'' said Brenna Santoro, whose goal from 40 yards out pumped up Kempsville in the second half.
Kempsville tallied two more, another from Rafal and a header by Alison Kirch, before Tabb netted its first. Stephanie Rader, the Peninsula player of the year, scored on a penalty kick with 10 minutes left.
In the second game, the Falcons dominated the Southeastern District champs and pulled away for a 4-0 halftime lead. Katie McDonald headed Stumpf's corner kick for the first goal, and Stumpf scored the next two. Erin Swiader and Robin Dwyer also scored for the Falcons.
Great Bridge (13-5), which has struggled since losing leading scorer Jennifer Hilborn to an injury, managed only two shots on goal to Cox's 35. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Tabb's Allison Bowman, left, and Kempsville's Katie Johnson collide
in the region semifinal. Bowman had to be carried off the field. by CNB