THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607040707
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 37 lines
Dustin Swinehart lay on the ground and watched the ball trickle toward the goal. After what seemed an eternity, the ball slipped across the line before a charging Roanoke defender could clear the shot.
Swinehart's goal secured the Mariners' 3-1 victory over Premier League competitor Roanoke Wednesday night at First Colonial before a crowd of 1,621.
With less than a minute remaining, Swinehart faked the River Dawgs keeper and took a shot as he fell.
``I just felt like I got enough to nick it by him,'' Swinehart said. ``I got whacked in the leg ... It wasn't the hardest kick of my life. It was a great pass by Lang (Wedemeyer). He placed it perfectly.''
Hampton Roads (11-2, 6-1) started strongly, but had to hold off a River Dawgs' rally. Ryan Leib gave the Mariners the early edge as he punched a shot across the box for an unassisted goal.
Roanoke took command late in the half. Pat McSorley drove into the box and lifted a shot over Hampton Roads keeper Matt Olson for a 1-1 tie.
With less than a minute remaining, Scott Lawler took a pass from Sterling Wescott and scored.
``I thought we came out real strong and did real well,'' Swinehart said. ``We knocked it around and had a lot of possessions. About 30 minutes into the game, they woke up and came at us pretty hard.''
The Mariners now enter the heart of their schedule. With 10 games remaining, Hampton Roads must face top Select League foes Tampa, Carolina and South Carolina on the road. All remaining games are league contests. The team's only breather could be against Birmingham. It counts as a Select League game because Birmingham was expected to be at that level but has dropped to Premier status.
``Down the stretch, we are going to need the guys who haven't been playing to step up,'' Mariners coach Shawn McDonald said.
Hampton Roads travels to Tampa Saturday. by CNB