Wiederwax raises her game for Marlins (2024)

THE ARRIVAL of a promising challenger is spurring goalkeeper Laura Wiederwax (Brooke Point) to play some of her best soccer for Virginia Wesleyan College this fall.

The junior posted back-to-back shutouts against Randolph-Macon and Roanoke last week. They were her third and fourth shutouts this season (boosting her career total to 21) and extending her scoreless streak to 269 minutes going into yesterday's game against Salisbury University.

"Laura's fitness level and confidence are much higher this year," said head coach Jeff Bowers, whose Marlins (9-1-1, 6-0 in ODAC) were ranked 10th in last week's national NSCAA/Adidas Division III poll. "I think the competition with Lindsey Williams has inspired her drive and made her play better."

Williams, a freshman from Princeton, N.J., posted victories over Washington & Lee and Randolph-Macon Women's College in the two games Wiederwax missed to attend a wedding.

Winning the defensive Most Valuable Player award at last month's Oneonta Hall of Fame tournament proved a bittersweet moment for Wiederwax, who suffered her only loss of the season--a 3-0 setback to defending national champion Oneonta (SUNY).

"We have a young team with 22 freshmen and sophom*ores and we didn't bring our best game that day," said Wiederwax, a criminal justice major. "I told them I want to play them again later in the season. There's a tremendous commitment level here and we're coming together as a team."

The Marlins also are reaping the benefits from the fine play of freshman forward Christina Smith (Brooke Point), who has two goals and two assists coming off the bench. Wiederwax and Smith played together in high school and on the same select travel team.

Highlanders learn from losses

Surrendering 19 goals in two losses last weekend was unsettling and probably raised doubt in some Radford field hockey players' minds.

Coach Jeff Woods was surprised by the two whippings his team endured. The Highlanders fell 10-0 to fifth-ranked Duke on Saturday and 11-0 to No. 1 North Carolina on Sunday.

"We certainly weren't expecting to go down by those scores," Woods said. "We could have been devastated following the Duke loss, but we played them [North Carolina] tough in the first half and managed to go on the attack."

The Tar Heels enjoyed a 3-0 halftime lead with the three goals coming off corners. The Highlanders (3-6) seemed to lose their intensity level in the second half--a trend that has appeared in several other losses this fall.

"Why are we giving up so many goals in the second half? I think it is more a mental than physical thing," said Woods, noting that five of the team's losses have come against teams that either were ranked in the top 20 or received votes.

Playing tough competition should prove beneficial in the long run for the young Radford defense, which starts two sophom*ores after graduating its starting goalie and center back from a year ago.

Senior Angela Feindt (Stafford) is a co-captain and is a stabilizing force from her defensive position. She has started every game since her freshman year and set a school record with seven defensive saves last year. She has three defensive saves this season, including a pair against North Carolina, and her first career goal was a game-winner against Longwood.

"Angela anchors our defense and she is one of the most skilled players on the team," Wood said. "She sometimes is on the attack, and she is an important part on our corners."

Freshmen Megan Longtain and Lauren Pearson (Culpeper) have seen playing time off the bench.

Despite its recent lumps, Radford is expected to make another run at a high finish in the NorPac Conference playoffs Nov. 4-6 at Davidson (N.C.) College. The Highlanders lost to California-Berkeley 5-2 in last year's conference final.

Making headlines

Area athletes and several state athletic teams turned in noteworthy accomplishments last week, including the following

Stafford County's Kevin Edwards (Stafford) and Ben Nason (Colonial Forge) accounted for all of the scoring as the Virginia Tech men's soccer team defeated No. 3 ranked Coastal Carolina 2-0 on Sunday. Edwards scored at 24:38 and Nason added an insurance goal in the 77th minute of play. Nason leads the Hokies with four assists.

Averett University's football team is off to a 4-0 start for the first time ever following Saturday's 46-44 triple-overtime victory over Ferrum. The Captains' roster includes sophom*ores linebacker William Lavoie (Courtland) and lineman Clinton Roof (Liberty) and freshman defensive back Derrick Burton (Stafford).

Longwood's Julie Price (North Stafford) was the Eastern College Athletic Conference player of the week for field hockey. The junior midfielder had two goals and two assists to help spark Lancer victories over St. Francis (Pa.) and Robert Morris.