
DATE: Thursday, May 15, 1997                TAG: 9705150683

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   57 lines

KEMPSVILLE GIRLS, COX BOYS BATTLE TO REACH BEACH FINALS AND REGION

The Kempsville girls and Cox boys soccer teams got what they wanted the hard way.

The two had to fight through the Beach District tournament and won semifinal victories Wednesday at Ocean Lakes that got them into Monday's Eastern Region quarterfinals.

The Kempsville girls edged Cox 1-0, while the Falcons boys slipped by First Colonial 2-1.

With the wins, the two advance to Friday's Beach championships against teams that had qualified for the region by virtue of winning the regular season titles.

The Kempsville girls will face Princess Anne, while the Cox boys will take on Kempsville.

Both semifinals were typically close, physical, Beach battles between old rivals.

At the beginning of the season, nobody expected the Cox and Kempsville girls to be fighting each other for the district's No. 2 berth to the region.

``We thought we'd both be going,'' said Kempsville midfielder Jennifer Baker, who scored the winner midway through the first half when a throw in by Monica Frey was deflected back to her by a Cox defender.

``But we didn't think we'd be going face-to-face for one of the spots. This was the game of our lives.''

Cox (13-2-1) got quality chances throughout.

The boys game had lots of high-flying head-bashing and tough takedowns - the last of which cost First Colonial the game.

With the match into extra time, Patriots defender Danny Chung was called for pulling down Brannon Thomas as he attempted to shoot at close range. The Falcons were awarded a penalty kick and Bryan Anderson beat Tim Scott to the left corner.

``This was one physical game,'' said Anderson. ``I like it that way. When these two teams get together, it's the best game to watch.''

Cox (13-2) had fallen behind 10 minutes into play when Dustin Judge put the Patriots (11-5) up 1-0. Robby O'Donnel had started a play with a free kick to the right post, where Rob Wright's bicycle kick deflected off the post into the middle, where Judge waited.

But Cox picked up the pace with enthusiasm in the second half and tied it with 28:46 remaining when Dave Kozak sent in a rebound of a teammate's shot.

There was a flurry of Cox shots just before the penalty kick was awarded, with both Scott and his defenders making miraculous saves.

``We put them into a situation where they were almost forced to foul,'' Cox coach Jim Snodgrass said. ``We were all over them in the second half.

``This game meant everything.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Maury's Matt Newbold, right, battles to keep Granby's Edmer Martinez

off the ball during the Commodores' 1-0 Eastern District

quarterfinal win. Maury meets Churchland tonight; both go to the

Eastern Region tournament.