DATE: Tuesday, October 14, 1997             TAG: 9710140443

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C6   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   40 lines

LUOMA: SOCCER TAUGHT, AND HE LEARNED WELL

Let the game be your teacher.

That's the advice Steve Luoma gave his son Brian years ago about soccer, and Brian has never forgotten it. In fact, he's almost taken it too literally.

Luoma juggles a couple of teams and a couple of practices every week. He's on the Olympic Development squad, plays select with Beach FC and is a midfielder for Cape Henry, which just happens to be coached by his dad.

``I probably play 10 times a week and practice 2 1/2 hours a day,'' Luoma says.

The work has paid off, Steve Luoma says. Brian has 12 goals and 29 assists for the Dolphins and is a potential All-American.

``Brian has the ability to read the game and create goals whether he's playing the midfield or defense,'' he says. ``He sees so much open space and has a tremendous ability to put the ball anywhere he wants to put it.''

Luoma is a big reason why the Dolphins are 11-3-1 with a win over rival Norfolk Academy. In addition to his field vision, Luoma is an all-around athlete who lifts weights, plays basketball and plans to start training with the cross country team when soccer season ends.

Luoma says his role model is his brother, Sean, who plays soccer for Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

``He works out at least six hours a day,'' Luoma says. ``He taught me not to take anything for granted.''

Luoma, second team all-Tidewater last year, was the only private school player to receive that honor. A three-time all-conference player, the junior is already receiving letters from interested colleges including Notre Dame, the University of Vermont and Colby. He wants to major in biology and be a dentist.

``That way I can schedule my appointments,'' he says, ``and fit in soccer.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Steve Luoma...

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