THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 2, 1996 TAG: 9611020626
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 43 lines
Although Oscar Smith chalked up yet another first in its inaugural field hockey season Friday, it was a record-setting goal by Reina Cruz of Nansemond River that had the biggest impact in the Southeastern District final.
Cruz scored on a rebound with 25:05 left in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie and spur No. 3 Nansemond River to the title.
Cruz's goal was her 20th of the year, breaking the school record of 19 set by Kari Harrell last season.
It also made up for Oscar Smith (7-6) becoming the first district team to score a goal on the regular-season champion Warriors (15-2) this year.
``We don't dwell on records before they set them,'' Warriors coach Bucky Payton said of the Cruz goal. ``The fact that it was the go-ahead goal of the district championship was important enough.''
Both teams advanced to the Eastern Region tournament at Cox on Tuesday. Nansemond River plays Booker T. Washington at 9:30 a.m. and Oscar Smith faces Maury at 12:30 p.m.
For the Warriors, region competition is nothing new. Nansemond River has won three straight district titles, including titles in its final two years in the Bay Rivers District. But the same cannot be said for Oscar Smith, which started field hockey this season.
``At the very beginning of the year, we were just trying to put together a team,'' Tigers coach Patty Walsh said. ``We can now actually be called a legitimate field hockey team.''
And they became legitimate in a hurry as they laid claim to a series of firsts for the rookie Chesapeake schools, including first goal, first hat trick, first victory and first win over a Suffolk team (4-2 over Lakeland in the semifinals).
In the final, Katie Kraemer converted a pass from Amber Parker on a penalty corner with 1:18 left in the first half to put an end to Nansemond River's string of eight shutouts against district teams and tie the game at 1-1. Sarah Meinertzhagen had opened the scoring for the Warriors.
However, Oscar Smith spent most of the time after intermission defending its goal.
Melissa Johnson closed out the scoring with four seconds remaining in the game off an assist by Meinertzhagen. by CNB