DATE: Tuesday, May 13, 1997                 TAG: 9705130518

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

SOURCE: BY ROBIN BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   41 lines

PAUL PAVON: CAPE HENRY LACROSSE STAR SCORES AT WILL

With 54 goals and 99 points in 16 games this spring Cape Henry's Paul Pavon has scored virtually at will.

So what's the one word Dolphins' lacrosse coach Scott Lebew uses to describe his junior attackman?

Unselfish, of course.

``When Paul goes to the goal he usually has at least three defenders hanging on him,'' Lebew said. ``He's always looking to make the feed.''

Pavon rang up seven and six goals in two victories over Nansemond-Suffolk Academy last week. But with Hampton Roads Academy in a gimmick defense designed to stop him in the TCIS final Saturday night, Pavon was content to move the ball and find the open man.

He racked up four assists to go with three goals in a 19-3 victory that gave Cape Henry only its second conference championship in any sport. The first came three years ago, also in lacrosse.

``The defense tried to shut me off and when they do that Todd (Feldman) scores, Mark (Kelly) scores,'' Pavon said. ``The most satisfying thing about this year isn't that I was the leading scorer, but that a lot of my teammates were close behind.''

Pavon took up lacrosse in fifth grade and last year started on a state championship team at Norfolk Academy. He transferred to Cape Henry last fall hoping to make a fresh start academically.

He knew the lacrosse team wouldn't be as strong, but believed the right attitude can make up for many shortcomings.

``I took it upon myself here to try and get people more involved, to hustle all the time and give 100 percent,'' he said. ``I was hoping everybody would do the same and it worked.''

Worked so well, in fact, that Cape Henry qualified for the state playoffs beginning today at Potomac School.

``It's been a great year,'' Pavon said. ILLUSTRATION: Paul Pavon

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