THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 9, 1996 TAG: 9610080185
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: 80 lines
SHOWDOWN TIME.
Yep, there's a big field hockey game a brewin' and it's going to take place this Thursday.
Cox at Kempsville.
Baring any upsets in games Tuesday - which, in the Beach District is always a possibility - Cox should enter the matchup at 5-0, Kempsville 4-0-1.
Not to count anybody else out of the race with three games left, but . . . the winner of this game will likely win the district championship.
On Tuesday, Cox was to face Salem and Kempsville was to go up against Kellam.
And Tuesday's games might not have even taken place, as the remnants of Tropical Storm Josephine were expected to dump some heavy rain and strong winds on the area.
But even with an upset or two, Thursday's matchup is what field hockey followers have been waiting to see.
The two schools have totaled more state championships than any other district in state history. The last big game between the two came in 1990 - a game Cox won on a first-half penalty stroke for the second of a national-record seven consecutive state titles.
``Kempsville returns a lot of starters, probably the most in the district,'' Falcons coach Nancy Fowlkes said. ``And they came into this season with a great deal of confidence. They think they can be champions and that's worth something.''
Unfortunately, the Chiefs suffered a letdown in a 1-1 tie against Princess Anne in the district opener Sept. 24. That tie could, however, have been a godsend to Kempsville.
``I think it did (fire us up),'' Kempsville coach Sarah Taylor said. ``It made them realize that teams weren't going to sit back and wait for them to score. They were going to have to play a lot harder and they seem to be doing that.
``They've gotten a little better with each game.''
Kempsville is led in scoring by forward Laura Steadman, but the entire Chiefs front line has scored.
Cox is getting similar production from Katie McDonald. Juniors Katie Kubic and Taylor Rountree have played big roles and Brianne Baylor has had what Fowlkes calls ``a great game every game.''
Give Kempsville the edge at keeper, as Lauren Rafal is vastly experienced while Cox junior Kiernan Raffo is starting in her first varsity season.
If only reputation, Cox has more to lose in this game. Although a loss won't by any means put the Falcons out of postseason competition, it will be .
Cox hasn't lost a game since the 1993 Beach District tournament championship and they didn't lose that game in regulation play. Green Run beat the Falcons in penalty strokes, but Cox went on to beat the Stallions in both the region and state finals.
Since then, Cox has rebuilt its winning streak to 53 games heading into Tuesday. In the last five years, plus six games this season, Cox is 101-1. The 53-game streak ranks fifth nationally - right behind the 58-game streak Cox had before it lost to Green Run.
Fowlkes had 295 career victories heading into Tuesday and will no doubt get her 300th win this season.
So who's going to win?
Don't bet on anybody, because anybody can win. But think about this: Cox scored a goal on Kempsville in the one half of play the two teams got in at the Virginia Beach Field Hockey Jamboree.
But Cox has already beaten a trio of powerhouses this year - taking Virginia Independent School's state champion Richmond Collegiate, 4-0; beating Metro private schools champion St. Agnes, 2-0; and blasting four-time Maryland state champion Severna Park, 4-0, in a scrimmage.
But Thursday, throw all that out the window and enjoy a great Beach field hockey rivalry. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Senior forward Katie McDonald, all Beach-District performer, is
among Cox's leading scorers.
Kempsville senior goaltender Lauren Rafal has the edge in experience
in front of the net.
KEYWORDS: FIELD HOCKEY by CNB