THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 1, 1996 TAG: 9610010477
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 39 lines
His stat line - two goals, five assists, two Portsmouth Christian victories - stands on its own. But the most remarkable thing about the performance Brian Rustay turned in last week is the fact that soccer's not really his game.
Seems it takes a basketball to bring out the real Rustay. As a junior, he averaged 20 points a game, earned the Metro Conference's most valuable player honors and came within a halfcourt heave of leading the Patriots to the private schools Division 2 state title.
``It bounced off the rim,'' Rustay said.
Soccer, on the other hand, is something Rustay might not even be playing had coach Matt Wiehl not urged him to come out for the team during a gym class two years ago. He plays only during the high school season. And his pass-first mentality stems in part from a lack of faith in his own shot.
Yet none of this has stopped Rustay from becoming an impact player for the Patriots, who began the week in a first-place tie in the four-team Metro.
``Soccer may not be one of my best sports, but I just try to use whatever talents God has given me for the good of my team,'' said Rustay, the son of a pastor.
Rustay notched a goal and three assists Tuesday in the Patriots' 5-0 pasting of Alliance. But his most stirring effort came three days later against Denbigh Christian.
With a setting seemingly straight out of a dime-store novel - facing a team that had eliminated the Rams in a tournament semifinal shootout a year ago, score tied after regulation, coach away at a hospital tending to his son's broken arm - Rustay set up John Collins for an overtime, game-winning goal.
``We won for our coach and ourselves,'' Rustay said. ``It's something I'll never forget.''
At least until basketball season. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by CNB