DATE: Monday, July 21, 1997                 TAG: 9707210160

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C4   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   48 lines

PIRANHAS DROP FINAL REGULAR SEASON GAME

The Hampton Roads Piranhas' last regular-season game was one of missed opportunities, as the W-league's top team in the Mid-Atlantic division lost to defending league champion Maryland Pride 2-1 Sunday at Lake Taylor Stadium. Earlier this season, the Piranhas beat the Pride 3-1.

Refusing to lose to the Piranhas again, Maryland (8-1) pushed hard offensively the entire game, shooting twice as often as the home team.

``My players came into this game with a little bit different mindset,'' said Pride coach Carolyn Rice. ``This time, we gave them a different look.''

Piranhas' head coach Pat McStay already knows what his team needs to do to improve on Sunday's play.

``We really didn't create anything,'' said McStay. ``We need to go back this week and find our rhythm. We didn't have a lot of flow this game.''

Both teams played a slow, controlled game until the last 10 minutes of the second half when a long, high goal by Piranha forward Elizabeth Auwarter prompted more intense play on the field and loud cheers from almost 1,000 fans.

Within minutes, forward Lisa Echea pulled the fans to their feet after collecting the ball in front of an open goal, but her attempt to tie the score was deflected by a Maryland defender.

Both Maryland's goals came in the first half after numerous shots were snatched away by Piranha goalkeeper Rachel Ankney.

The closest the Piranhas came to scoring in the first half was in the last two minutes when forward Whitney Cali intercepted the ball from the hands of Maryland goalkeeper Tina Pihl and shot over an open goal.

Co-captain and sweeper Allison Ankerson, who was playing on a sprained ankle, didn't think the rest of the game was any better. She noted the lack of intensity during the second half and said they'll work this week on playing together more as a team.

``It's all mental from here on out,'' she said.

The team hasn't lost hope that they'll win the rematch. The Piranhas (7-3) will play the Pride in the divisional playoffs this weekend in Maryland to decide who will advance to the National Championship Tournament in Rochester, N.Y. July 31 to Aug. 3.

``We'll get 'um when it counts,'' said Ankney. ILLUSTRATION: MARTIN SMITH-RODDEN/The Virginian-Pilot

Maryland's Emily Pickering hits the ground as she scrambles for a

loose ball with Piranhas forward Elizabeth Auwarter Sunday at Lake

Taylor.

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