A 13-player group from Riverside High School managed to best nine of the other 10 teams in the annual Battle at the Beach at Virginia Wesleyan University on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2001, but they couldn't get past a team from W.T. Woodson High School from Fairfax, Va.
The Pirates, in the coaching debut of Riverside alum Jon Ham, won seven of the 25-minute round-robin games, but lost to Woodson early in the day in the seedings round 13-9 and lost to them six hours later in the day's tournament final 15-5. The more than four hours of intense play had taken its toll on the Pirates, who had clearly run out of gas by the final game and had several players fighting off leg cramps.
Durham was well-represented in the day's final four teams. After the seven seeding games Riverside was seeded second in the tournament and Durham Academy was seeded fourth. DA also fell to Woodson in their semifinal game.
The day began well for the Pirates as they defeated Cape Henry Academy 6-2 in a bruising game. Chris Feifs and Graham Murray each had three goals in that game. Then came the first game with Woodson, which Riverside lost 13-9. Cory Coffman has three goals in the game, Chris Feifs had three, Owen Ham had one, Anthony Howard had one. Excellent goalkeeping by Zach Brewer was crucial in that win and several others on the day, as was the longstick play of Nick Wallhauser, Mark Hamilton and Bryan Thompson.
Next, Riverside played Durham Academy in the final morning session, winning 9-5. Cory Coffman had three goals in that game, Kevin Raspet had two, Rich Ladd had two and Graham Murray had one. In the first afternoon session Riverside defeated Christchurch 13-6. Leading scorer in that game was Chris Feifs with four goals. Kevin Raspet had three, Cory Coffmann also had three. Graham Murray and Owen Ham also added goals.
In the next game, Riverside defeated Nansemond-Suffolk Academy 9-4. Balanced scoring and great goaltending helped in the win. Kevin Raspet, Chris Feifs, Cory Coffmann, Owen Ham, Graham Murray all had goals in that game.
Against an outclassed LaFayette Academy team, the Pirates dominated 13-0. Kevin Raspet had three goals in that game, Owen Ham had three, Chris Feifs had two and Rich Ladd, Bryan Thompson and Anthony Howard each had one.
In the final seeding game of the day, the Pirates beat Cape Henlopen of Delaware 6-5 in a well-played game for both teams. Goalkeeper Zach Brewer wins the Hoover award on this one, making save after save against the Delaware team. Chris Feifs had three goals and Graham Murray also had three in the game.
In the first semifinal game, a rematch against Cape Henry, Riverside prevailed 6-3 with Chris Feifs scoring two, and Kevin Raspet, Cory Coffmann, Owen Ham and Graham Murray adding one each.
In the final, Riverside was down 6-1 quickly, and just didn't have the energy for a comeback. Cory Coffmann had three of Riverside's five goals and Chris Feifs and Rich Ladd had the other two.
