THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270748
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 119 lines
Old Dominion soccer player Carlos Vasco is looking to turn the Monarchs' season around this weekend.
After playing three top-20 teams in their first six games, the Monarchs have struggled to an 0-6 start. Their record could easily have been 3-3; three of those losses came in overtime.
This weekend, Old Dominion makes its home-field debut in the annual MetLife Classic. The Monarchs face Navy tonight at 8 and San Diego on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
``It's going to be exciting because the first six games were away, the last three on turf,'' Vasco said. ``We play in a beautiful stadium. We're improving as a team. Maybe we can win six in a row, get on a streak and become a .500 team.''
Vasco was the star for ODU last season with 17 goals and two assists. This season, he is the senior leader of the team. He has smoothly made the transition from coach Ralph Perez, the main reason he selected Old Dominion, to new coach Bob Warming.
Vasco, who moved from Colombia to the United States at age 11, earned All-State and All-American honors at Jackson Memorial High School in New Jersey, which won the state title his sophomore season. In his senior season, his club coach steered Vasco toward Old Dominion and Perez.
``Basically, I came down and I liked the field, the stadium and to have a Spanish coach,'' Vasco said. ``There were a couple of Spanish kids on the team. I thought I would blend in better. ''
Plus, there was Perez's reputation. ``What I had heard of coach Perez were all good things,'' Vasco said. ``I was fortunate that Old Dominion also wanted me.''
ODU has been expected to be a Colonial Athletic Association power during Vasco's tenure. Each year, Vasco expected to advance to the NCAA tournament. The Monarchs have challenged but never quite made it into the event.
``I seriously think in a lot of games, we have dominated or have been the better team,'' Vasco said. ``We should have been in the NCAA tournament every year. It's frustrating. I see a lot of teams that have players I've played with.''
The soft-spoken Vasco draws from his experiences to help younger players make the transition to the college game. He is proud of his time at ODU and is looking forward to turning things around.
In the MetLife Classic, the Monarchs, who are playing one of their toughest schedules in years, face a strong Navy team and No. 15 San Diego. But while Vasco is looking for victories, he is more interested in seeing the Monarchs finally come together as a unit.
``I just want to get better as a team, to be better overall,'' he said. ``We have the talent and the players. I can say for myself I haven't been playing my best soccer. I think a lot of the players can say that. But we're improving as a team.''
Vasco concentrates less on his soccer accomplishments, which include 25 career goals for the Monarchs, than his academic achievements. He will graduate on time with a solid grade-point average and a degree in finance with a minor in international business. He is prepared for whichever goal he may chase.
``My dreams are to keep playing, but if they don't happen to come true, I'll have to do what the rest of the world does and go to work,'' he said. ``I want to work in the international marketplace.
``As long as I'm happy and have people around me who love me and who I love, then I'll always be rich.''
There are two MetLife games both today and Sunday, and both days the Old Dominion women's team also plays. Today, it's the ODU women vs. George Mason at 3 p.m., the Radford and San Diego men at 5:30 and ODU-Navy at 8.
On Sunday, the ODU women meet Air Force at noon. The ODU men play San Diego at 2:30 and then it's Navy vs. Radford at 5:00. Admission for each day at the ODU soccer stadium is $4 adults, $2 children.
Old Dominion Record:
0-6-0
Conference: Colonial
Outlook: Carlos Vasco leads the Monarchs with three goals.Freshman keepers Ryan Duncan and Chuck Connelly share time in goal. Duncan has played 55 minutes, posting a 2.76 goals-against average. Connelly has played 45 minutes and has a 4.0 GAA.
U.S. Naval Academy
Record: 2-4-1
Conference: Patriot League
Outlook: David Cuthbert paces the Navy attack with two goals and one assist, and Aaron Swensen has also tallied two goals. Greg Stepler and Derek Diorio have shared time in goal. Stepler has played 390 minutes with two shutouts and a 0.69 GAA. Diorio has played 285 minutes with a 1.89 GAA.
U. of San Diego
Record: 5-0-2
Conference: West Coast
Outlook: Leighton O'Brien leads 15th-ranked San Diego with five goals and four assists. Matt Geske and Jamie Munro have three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Joe Panian (3-0-1) has logged 442 minutes in net, posting a 0.41 GAA with two shutouts. Carlos Castellanos (2-0-1) has played 308 minutes with a 0.88 GAA and one shutout. San Diego has outscored opponents 17-5 this season.
Radford Record:
3-4-1
Conference: Big South
Outlook: Richard Shepherd leads Radford with two goals and three assists for seven points; Jason Gvozdas leads the team in goals with three. Sacha Drouin has played 738 minutes in goal, earning a 1.585 GAA. ILLUSTRATION: Maybe we can win six in a row, get on a streak and
become a .500 team,'' says forward Carlos Vasco, whose ODU men's
soccer team will host Navy at 8 tonight in the annual MetLife
Classic at the Old Dominion soccer stadium.
BILL TIERNAN
The Virginian-Pilot
METLIFE GLANCE
What: MetLife Classic
When: Today and Sunday
Where: ODU soccer stadium
Admission: $4 adults, $2 children for each day
Schedule: Both days the Old Dominion women's team also plays.
Friday: ODU women vs. George Mason at 3 p.m, Radford-San Diego men's
game at 5:30, ODU-Navy men at 8. Sunday: ODU women-Air Force at
noon, ODU men-San Diego at 2:30, Navy-Radford at 5:00. by CNB