THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 15, 1996 TAG: 9609130252
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: TCIS FIELD HOCKEY
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 88 lines
Like Maury in the Eastern District and Cox at the Beach, Norfolk Academy has a long history of domination in Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools field hockey play.
This year, it will probably be status quo.
The Bulldogs have nine returning starters from a tremendous team that went unbeaten in TCIS play. This is a very cohesive unit, as those nine are entering their third year together on the varsity level.
That basically leaves the battle for second place and any of the other four South Hampton Roads TCIS members could take the spot. Walsingham and Hampton Roads Academy are legitimate contenders for the No. 2 spot as well.
Following is a look at South Hampton Roads' TCIS members in the predicted order of finish:
NORFOLK ACADEMY
Coach: Mary Werkheiser.
Last year's record: 17-4.
Key performers: Liz Enright, senior keeper; Tricia Voyer, senior midfielder; Merrick Michaels, junior forward; Mason White, junior forward/midfielder; Mary Burroughs, senior halfback; Courtney Coalter, sophomore forward; Ali George, senior halfback; Hannah Wood, senior sweeper; Jennifer Holbrook, senior forward.
Overview: The top keeper in the league (Enright allowed only one goal) and a pair of leading scorers in Michaels (13) and Holbrook (10). Academy went unbeaten in TCIS play last year and could very possibly repeat the feat this season. There is a tremendous amount of talent and depth. White and Enright played in the Junior Olympic hockey festival over the summer, and the nine returning starters have played varsity together for the past two seasons.
CAPE HENRY
Coach: Laurel Martin.
Last year's record: 9-8-3.
Key performers: Kelly Bradley, senior forward; Elizabeth Dunnington, senior midfielder; Jenna Boseman, senior midfielder; Katie Fisher, senior defender; Sarah Pike, senior sweeper; Liz Costigan, sophomore defender; Mackenzie Snyder, junior keeper; Alison Fuqua, junior defender; Carey Plemmons, senior midfielder; Valerie DeWandel, junior midfielder; Elizabeth Ryan, sophomore midfielder.
Overview: Martin joins the Dolphins after having competed as a member of the U.S. Olympic team, bringing a vast array of field hockey knowledge to Cape Henry. And she's coaching a pretty good team. Snyder had 10 shutouts in goal last year, and Bradley is the team's leading returning scorer with nine goals. The Dolphins showed scoring prowess in 4-0 victories against Lake Taylor and Nansemond-Suffolk, before struggling in a 1-1 tie with Norfolk Collegiate.
NORFOLK COLLEGIATE
Coach: Kathy Miller.
Last year's record: 10-9.
Key performers: Marsha Pascual, junior forward; Chelsea Dailey, senior keeper; Katherine Laine, senior forward; Harper Meredith, senior forward; Alice Dorman, junior forward; Diana Marquez, junior sweeper; Courtney Zinouis, junior halfback.
Overview: Collegiate has a brand new field that is probably the best in the league and one of the tops in the area. An All-TCIS selection last year, Pascual played on the Tidewater team that won a bronze medal in the Virginia Commonwealth Games over the summer. The team has a good number of returning starters and a strong junior class.
NANSEMOND-SUFFOLK ACADEMY
Coach: Susan Glover.
Last year's record: 4-2-1.
Key performers: Erin O'Berry, senior forward/midfielder; Sarah Case, senior defender/midfielder; Lee Cary, sophomore midfielder/forward; Madeline Flowers, sophomore defender; Tina Walker, sophomore keeper.
Overview: N-SA lost 10 starters to graduation and has no real standouts - not a bad thing in that this year's edition has much more of a ``team'' attitude. The team is extremely young, with nine sophomores making up a bulk of the lineup.
CATHOLIC
Coach: Miora Leavitt.
Last year's record: 8-14-2.
Key performers: Jenn Dixon, senior forward; Sarah Lepere, junior midfielder; Kristen Sorenson, senior keeper; Jenn Jellig, senior sweeper; Mary Ellen Price, junior defender; Sharon Reinman, senior midfielder.
Overview: The Crusaders are coming off a third-place finish but only have five returning starters from that squad. Sorenson is strong in goal, and the team features an aggressive attack and smart-playing midfield. Dixon will need to score plenty to repeat last year's effort. by CNB