THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9608310719
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 63 lines
The Old Dominion men's soccer team is not easing into the 1996 season.
The Monarchs open at preseason No. 1 Virginia tonight, then travel to Las Vegas to play powerful UNLV and No. 13 Santa Clara. Old Dominion swings by William and Mary for a tournament, then finally opens at home in the Metlife Tournament featuring No. 17 San Diego Sept. 27-29. In October, the Monarchs host No. 4 Maryland.
Not an easy schedule for first-year coach Bob Warming.
Instead of cringing from the load of top-20 opponents, Warming is using the schedule as a training model for his underclassmen. He does not plan to pack the box and try to hold off a team like Virginia. Instead, the Monarchs will play an aggressive, attacking style from start to finish.
``In the first year of a program, you have to establish how you're going to play forever with a team,'' Warming said. ``If you feel like at this point you're undermanned, you don't back off and try to hold them. We're still going to attack; it's not an issue if it works. The issue is the players learning to play that way.''
If the players learn to attack the top teams in the country, Warming believes they will cease to be intimidated and will gain the confidence and aggression to become one of those top teams.
``This is the pinnacle,'' he said. ``The challenge is to not leave them on the pedestal. We play Virginia here Nov. 1, 1997; this will be a developmental experience for that.''
Warming has the tools to build for the future. The Monarchs lost goalkeeper Nathan Olansen and defender Byron Mitchell to graduation, then keeper Michael Rodriguez went out in the preseason with an injury. Leading scorer Carlos Vasco returns, but he is joined by a core of underclassmen and freshmen. The Monarchs will field seven starters with virtually no college experience.
Vasco earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors last season after posting 17 goals and two assists as the Monarchs went 10-9-1 overall, 4-3-1 in the CAA.
``I'm looking for great things out of him,'' Warming said.
At keeper, two freshmen could split time. Chuck Connelly, 5-foot-11, and Ryan Duncan, 6-foot-1, have shared playing time in the preseason. Neither has the edge entering the season.
``It's a toss of a coin,'' Warming said. ``I haven't decided who's going to start. They both look great.''
Sophomore Mark Woods defends at sweeper. Junior college transfer Dwayne Urquhart was to lead the defense, but is out for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Spiros Blackburn, a transfer from Texas-Austin, debuts at midfield with little playing experience. Blackburn, who was not playing collegiately, was spotted by Warming over the summer and recruited to Old Dominion. Striker Jimmy Tanner joins the team after a summer of international play.
``He has fit immediately with the team,'' Warming said of Tanner. ``Although he is only 18 years old, his best soccer is ahead of him. He really is going to be one of the great players over the next four years.''
The tough season opening is a tune-up for conference play. The Monarchs' goals include going undefeated at home and winning the CAA title. Roadblocks in the conference could be James Madison, William and Mary and American.
Regardless of the opponent or the outcome, one thing will be certain at every game. The Monarchs will be on the attack.
``We play an attacking style,'' Warming said. ``I think that's the way to play. That's fun for the players. If playing athletics isn't fun, why do it?'' by CNB