THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608020649
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 33 lines
The Hampton Roads Mariners will battle for a playoff berth this weekend, taking on Select League leader Carolina Saturday in High Point, N.C., and second-place South Carolina Sunday in Greenville, S.C.
The Mariners (16-4, 11-3) need to win one of their final three games to secure a spot in the three-team Select League South Atlantic Division playoffs. The top-ranked team receives a first round bye and the No. 2 team hosts the No. 3 team for a one-game playoff. The two remaining teams play a home-and-away series.
The Select League awards three points for a win and one for a shootout victory. The Mariners have 27 points, Carolina 37 and South Carolina 31. However, the Mariners in effect have 30, since they will be awarded three points at the end of the season when the league selects a game to replace a contest with Long Island that was canceled. The Mariners won all three games from which the league can pick.
The playoff race is down to Hampton Roads, Carolina, South Carolina and Tampa Bay. Hampton Roads has three games remaining and could finish second and host the first round.
Both Carolina (17-5, 13-3) and South Carolina (16-5, 11-5) have two games left.Tampa (8-7) has 22 points with three games remaining. The playoffs begin Aug. 14.
MARSCH UPDATE: Forward Jesse Marsch had surgery Thursday for a broken fibula suffered in Wednesday night's game against Richmond. Marsch, who also plays for Major League Soccer's D.C. United, will need four to eight weeks of recovery time. by CNB