THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130742
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 86 lines
The hardships of high school field hockey in Chesapeake are many. Heading into Oscar Smith's 1-0 victory over Deep Creek on Thursday, most were obvious.
A week into the season, a couple of schools have yet to procure playing fields. In four non-district games, Chesapeake teams had been outscored 38-0.
And both squads had to wait for Thursday's historic matchup to begin as the field was just getting mowed. Even then, the grass was as high as a hockey ball is wide - making play slow and often frustrating.
``I've been out here since 12:30 lining the field,'' Deep Creek coach Christy Butts said.
Tigers coach Patty Walsh was unsympathetic.
``At least you have a field,'' she said. ``We just got our cage today.''
But such obstacles were of little concern as the Hornets and Tigers prepared to do battle in the first game between Chesapeake teams.
It wasn't particularly pretty given the circumstances and the fact that the first 20 minutes were played with only one official, but it was a start for Chesapeake's newest sport.
And Oscar Smith's Joetta Thorpe was quick to take her cue.
The sophomore forward put her name forever in the record books by scoring the first goal by a Chesapeake player.
With 14:35 left in the first half, she swatted in a loose ball in front of the left corner of the cage - beating Hornets keeper Kristin Boyd. Amber Parker had taken the game's first shot, and Thorpe was able to get to the rebound.
``I never thought when I started this game that I'd score (the first goal by a Chesapeake player),'' Thorpe said. ``I just feel so happy and joyful that I made that shot for our team.''
- LEE TOLLIVER Football
CHESAPEAKE - Norfolk Academy spotted Atlantic Shores two touchdowns and then roared back to rout the Seahawks 41-21 in a non-conference football game Thursday.
Norfolk Academy (2-0) piled up 363 yards rushing and 22 first downs. Sophomore Bo Wilkinson carried 12 times for 146 yards and three TDs to lead the Bulldogs.
Atlantic Shores (0-4) led 13-12 and had a first down at the Norfolk Academy 11 late in the second quarter. But Eric Neff missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt with 53 seconds left in the half and the Bulldogs drove 80 yards in four plays to take an 18-12 lead.
Tad Galloway rolled right and hit Hunter Sims with a 12-yard pass as time expired.
- ROBIN BRINKLEY Golf
Granby 311, Churchland 333: Gary Crutcher medaled with a 5-over-par 75 and Billy Hussey (77) and Bryan Knight (78) finished second and third as the Comets won an Eastern District match at Ocean View.
Girls volleyball Cox 2, Tallwood 1: Catherine Dunford served eight points in the decisive third game as the Falcons won, 15-12, 5-15, 15-13.
Boys volleyball Indian River 2, Hickory 0: Brian Peterson had seven kills, seven digs and three aces for the Braves in a 15-9, 15-3 victory.
Girls basketball Nansemond-Suffolk 68, Greenbrier Christian 28: Ann Murden had 25 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and four assists and Allison Dunn added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Saints.
Awards VIRGINIA BEACH - The Virginia High School League's USAir Sportsmanship Ethics and Integrity Award has landed in the Beach District once again.
Tallwood, Ocean Lakes and Cox won awards for the 1995-96 school year, the VHSL announced this week.
The three-year-old award is the third for Tallwood, the second for Ocean Lakes and the first for Cox.
Robinson High of northern Virginia is the only other three-time winner in the state. A total of eight schools qualified for the prestigious award.
In other VHSL honors, the Kempsville girls basketball team was also presented with the Marshall Johnson Sportsmanship Award for basketball.
- LEE TOLLIVER ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER photo
Joetta Thorpe, left, celebrates her goal, Oscar Smith's first ever
in field hockey, with Sandy Alston in the Tigers' 1-0 win over Deep
Creek. by CNB