THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, September 30, 1996 TAG: 9609300141
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REA FARMER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 62 lines
Goalkeeper Chuck Connelly earned his first start of the season, pacing the Old Dominion men's soccer team to its first victory of the year.
The Monarchs handed 15th-ranked University of San Diego its first loss of the season, winning 3-2 in the MetLife Soccer Classic at the Old Dominion Soccer Stadium Sunday afternoon.
``Very few people outside our team believed we had a chance to win,'' Old Dominion coach Bob Warming said. ``Those are the sweetest victories.''
Connelly stonewalled the Toreros (6-1-2) early, stopping five consecutive San Diego corner kicks in the closing minutes of the first half.
``They were so tough because San Diego is a good team in the air,'' Connelly said of facing the corner kicks. ``We knew that, so we were prepared for it.''
The Monarchs (1-7) commanded the first half, posting a solid offensive attack with quick transitions and impenetrable defense. Twenty minutes into the half, Carlos Vasco streaked down the left sideline then passed to center Jamie Shy, who punched in the shot for a 1-0 lead.
The Monarchs continued the offensive pressure. At 32:09, Vasco was charging in the box when he tangled with keeper Joe Panian, who then lost the ball. John Wierzbowski smashed the loose ball into the net for the Monarchs' second goal.
San Diego began to challenge in the final 10 minutes of the half, but could not overcome the defense.
``It's an unbelievable feeling when you come up with a big save,'' Connelly said. ``It's a great feeling. My defense was great out there.''
In the second half, the Toreros took charge offensively. They controlled the majority of the half, consistently threatening with long shots. At 23:37, Ulf Stierna scored on a diving header in the box to cut the lead to one.
Less than a minute later, Leighton O'Brien broke free from his defender and tied the game with a 35-yard volley. Warming had reworked his defense to cover O'Brien, swiching Alex Denno to sweeper and marking O'Brien with Mark Woods.
``Frankly, Mark Woods was the only one who had a chance to stop him,'' Warming said. ``He broke free once and look what happened.''
The game remained deadlocked until 27:59 when Jose Salamanca grabbed a loose ball in the box and chipped it over a diving Panian.
The Toreros pressured the remainder of the game, but were held in check by the Monarchs' defense.
``We said today in the locker room that the thing that has killed us is failing to play our game,'' Warming said. ``To defend well and look to counterattack. Today, we followed the game plan for virtually the entire game.''
Connelly closed the game with nine saves and Panian had three.
``Chuck played a brilliant game,'' Warming said. ``San Diego really has two of the best players I've seen in Leighton O'Brien and Matthew Geske,'' Warming said. ``It was a great challenge.''
Old Dominion hosts George Mason Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ILLUSTRATION: San Diego's Matthew Geske assists ODU forward Carlos
Vasco to the ground Sunday. He didn't stay down long though. He
returned the favor by chalking up two assists in the Monarchs' 3-2
win over the 15th-ranked Toreros Sunday.
MIKE HEFFNER
The Virginian-Pilot by CNB