DATE: Saturday, May 31, 1997                TAG: 9705310669

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: WOODBRIDGE, VA.                   LENGTH:   38 lines

SUDDEN-DEATH OT WIN SENDS KEMPSVILLE TO GIRLS SOCCER FINAL

The Kempsville girls soccer team is one step away from going where no other Beach District team has gone - to the very top of the Group AAA state tournament.

The Chiefs (16-4-2) reached today's 2 p.m. championship at C.D. Hylton High with a 1-0, sudden-death overtime victory over defending state champion Robinson.

Kempsville will face W.T. Woodson, a 6-0 winner over Douglas Freeman.

First Colonial is the only other Beach team to go as far, finishing second in 1990 and '93. Maury finished second in '85 and '87.

In beating the Rams, Kempsville overcame its biggest obstacle of the tournament. Robinson (16-1-3) beat the Chiefs twice last year, including a 2-0 decision in last year's quarterfinals, but could manage only a 0-0 tie earlier this season.

``Hopefully, we can climb any mountain now,'' Chiefs coach Ed Hackett said.

Lauren Rafal provided the winner with 2:42 left in the five-minute period. Alison Kirsch sent a lofting pass form the left side to Rafal, who had eased into the box in front of Rams keeper Suzanne Wilson.

``We made eye contact, so I knew she was going to cross it,'' Rafal said. ``I placed it just right and I knew it was going in.''

Wilson made a play on the shot, but couldn't hold on.

Kempsville 1, Robinson 0

Goal: Lauren Rafal. Assist: Alison Kirsch. Shots: Robinson 15, Kempsville 10. Saves: R-Suzanne Wilson 4. K-Sarah Willis 9. ILLUSTRATION: HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot

The Kempsville girls soccer team celebrates a sudden-death goal

Friday in its Group AAA semifinal playoff game against defending

state champion Robinson. The victory gave the Chiefs a berth in the

state championship game.

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