THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 2, 1996 TAG: 9610010125
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 105 lines
WHEN ATTACKING forwards come her way, Lauren Rafal knows what they're thinking.
And chances are she won't be easily fooled. No, it takes one heck of a shot to beat the Kempsville field hockey goalkeeper.
Rafal, a senior, has the edge on most keepers because she has outstanding knowledge of how offenses work.
She should. She's one of the best soccer strikers in the state.
``Lauren knows how to score,'' Chiefs coach Sarah Taylor said. ``She knows the angles.''
Heading into Tuesday's matchup with Beach contender Bayside, Rafal and the Chiefs had been scored on only once in five games.
Part of that is because of an offense that is scoring an average of just over two goals a game - keeping the ball on the field side opposite Rafal - and because of a strong defensive unit in front of her.
But she is the final line of defense and revels in her task when it's time to perform.
``I like it,'' she said. ``It's a change of pace from playing on offense in soccer. And I understand what I'm supposed to do and what the attackers are likely to do and all that makes it easier.''
Rafal actually got her athletic career started as a young keeper in soccer before moving to the forward line. There, she has excelled to the point of making the state Olympic Development Program U-19 team. Her Beach FC U-19 Spurt won its league last fall and advanced to the state quarterfinals.
The Spurt's new season just got under way, so Rafal's a busy young woman at this time of the year.
``Playing both balances things out,'' said Rafal, an All-Beach second team field hockey player last year. ``I think playing one helps when playing the other.''
It has shown in her field hockey, where Rafal was talked into playing as an eighth-grader at Kempsville Middle.
``My soccer friends were playing and they asked me to come out,'' she said. ``I had played goalie in soccer and they needed a keeper. So I tried out and made it.''
And she was an instant success. In one year of middle school, Rafal was unscored on. She also had one year of junior varsity hockey in which no one could get a ball past her.
From that point on, her role on the field hockey turf was set.
``I sometimes wish I could play in the field,'' Rafal said. ``I do it in practice sometimes messing around.''
But because she lacks experience up front, she lacks the skills to be a field player.
``But not the mentality,'' Taylor said. ``She just doesn't have the time put in with stick work. But she knows how to score.
``That's why she's such a good keeper.''
Because of her experience in both sports, Rafal has the ability to judge when to come out of her cage and attack an attacker. She knows when to stay back.
``Difficult things to learn,'' Taylor said. ``The better ones do it naturally.''
This will be Rafal's last year of field hockey. Soccer is the sport that is going to earn her a free ride through college and several - like East Carolina, Boston College and Old Dominion - have let their intentions be known.
The one that wins her services will be one with a strong sports medicine program.
``I want to get into that or occupational therapy,'' she said. ``I wish I could have done the sports medicine program during high school, but there isn't enough time.''
Not with stopping all those goals.
After one week of district play, only one thing is clear - the race will be as tight as coaches predicted.
In its first two district games, Kempsville has had to go to overtime. The Chiefs edged First Colonial last Thursday 1-0 and tied a Princess Anne 1-1 team that is stronger than everyone thought in Tuesday's district opener.
``I know people have said the race would be strong every year, but I really think it is so this year more than ever,'' Taylor said. ``There isn't any one team this year that is loaded with superior players. Everybody has a few and that will make it tough.
``So I think you're going to see more close games this season.''
Taylor is trying to force that notion into her players' heads since the Chiefs are a serious title contender this year.
``They have to play harder because of that,'' she said. ``People always played their best games against Cox to try and beat them. Everybody's playing their best games every game this season.
``And people are coming after us this year like they are Cox.''
All that said, Cox is still an overwhelming favorite until somebody proves otherwise.
And after two games, nobody has even threatened.
The Falcons opened with a 2-0 victory over a strong Kellam team and then pounded Tallwood 4-0 on the strength of a Katie McDonald hat trick.
Cox faced First Colonial on Tuesday and will take on Green Run Thursday. Salem will be next Tuesday's opponent before the big Kempsville showdown on Oct. 10.
The problem for opponents is that the longer Cox goes unbeaten, the harder it's going to get for somebody to beat the Falcons. And with Beach teams playing each other only once, there are few chances. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by LEE TOLLIVER
``It's a change of pace from playing on offense in soccer,'' says
Lauren Rafal, Kempsville High's field hockey goalie who is on the
state soccer Olympic Development Program U-19. ``And I understand
what I'm supposed to do and what the attackers are likely to do and
all that makes it easier.'' by CNB