DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710100876

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   43 lines

THEY'RE SHORT ON GOALS BUT LONG ON HEART

The Indian River field hockey team measures success with a different yardstick.

Where most teams track shots, goals and victories, the Braves look at a good pass, a nice steal or how many times they get the ball into the offensive end of the field.

Last year's highlight was a tie with Deep Creek. So far this year, a goal against the Hornets has been the only thing another team would consider worthy of mentioning.

Indian River simply doesn't have much else to cheer about. The second-year squad has been outscored 106-1 in eight losses this year.

But the Braves are a shining example of a never-say-die attitude. Day in and day out, they continue to work on their fundamentals. And if losing builds character, this team could give lessons.

``We're very proud of that,'' said coach Wendy Belmont, who took over the team just three weeks ago. ``None of the girls had ever played before last year. But somehow they keep trying and keep their heads up.''

Through it all, keeper Nicole Winters has been nothing shy of inspirational, providing the team with its lone impressive statistic: saves.

Winters made more than 300 last year. In a 16-0 loss to Lakeland on Thursday, she was credited with 22. When she approached the bench for halftime, her team applauded her despite the fact that the Braves were losing 9-0.

After sitting out for a 10-minute breather in the second half, she wanted to jump back into the action.

``It's a challenge for me,'' she said. ``Sometimes I get frustrated, but I get rid of that pretty quick. I have to concentrate out there, and you can't do that thinking about the goals.''

Because the Braves measure goals a little differently than most teams. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

L. TODD SPENCER

Indian River keeper Nicole Winters, who made more than 300 saves

last season, was credited with 22 Thursday in a 16-0 loss to

Lakeland.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu