THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 31, 1996 TAG: 9605310668
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 27 lines
The Hampton Roads Mariners' goalkeeper situation has been altered again.
After losing Mike Oehlmann for the season to a broken knuckle, coach Shawn McDonald moved John Cone into the backup role. Cone, who has a history of shoulder injuries, was coming off summer surgery and not yet 100 percent. This week, Cone was released due to his continuing problem with injuries.
McDonald's concerns that starting keeper Matt Olson, on loan from the Major League Soccer team D.C. United, would be called up on a moment's notice were eased this week. Olson and midfielder Sterling Wescott were cut from their MLS teams. However, Olson is not through with the MLS. Saturday night, he is being loaned to the New England Revolution franchise for one game.
Thursday, the Mariners added former University of Akron keeper Michael Payne as a backup.
REMATCH TIME: The Charleston Battery come to Hampton Roads after downing the Mariners 4-3 in a shootout in their final preseason matchup.
Since then the Mariners have added almost an entire new roster, returning midfielder Mark Waite and defender Chris Penny have joined the team full-time and the Mariners have improved to 6-2, including a four-game win streak.
HOT HAND: Waite, at midfield, has been a force for the Mariners of late, scoring in each of the team's last three outings. by CNB