Duron's defense gives Blazers needed boost

College notebook

Date published: 10/25/2006

By KURT NICOLL

JUST ANOTHER chance is all goalkeeper Nina Duron and the Hood College women's soccer team are seeking.

Last month's 6-0 loss to the College of Notre Dame left a bitter taste in the Blazers' mouths and knocking off the defending champions of Atlantic Women's College Conference would prove a sweet sendoff before Hood moves to the Capital Athletic Conference next fall.

"We had [an] off-day and didn't bring our 'A' game," the former Brooke Point High School standout recalled. "As long as we stick together, we can be successful."

Sticking together is of vital necessity since Hood's starting lineup normally includes eight freshmen. First-year coach Jen Wood thinks the Blazers turned the corner two weeks ago when they blanked Goucher, 1-0.

Last year, Hood fell to Notre Dame in the league final en route to an 11-8 record--the school's first winning season since becoming an NCAA member in 1995.

Duron, who originally planned to attend either Mary Washington or a college in Texas, was impressed with Hood following her visit to the Frederick, Md., campus, describing the players and coach as "down to earth."

And it did not hurt Hood was in the market for a starting goalie for the upcoming season.

Demonstrating a willingness to communicate with teammates as well as to challenge opposing attackers, Duron has performed beyond expectations in her rookie season. She has eight shutouts while yielding 1.53 goals per game.

The Blazers (9-5-1) conclude the regular season with Averett University this weekend prior to participating in the AWCC tournament Nov. 4-5 at Chambersburg, Pa.

Johnson still slam champ

Sophomore Chris Johnson (Westmoreland County) scored a perfect score of 50 in the finals to successfully repeat as slam dunk champion in last Friday's LSU Fan Fest event that attracted nearly 5,000 spectators at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

After the semifinals, Johnson and Dameon Mason were tied for second place behind fellow Tiger Magnum Rolle, who scored 48 out of 50 in the semifinals. Team practice began Saturday with pre-season games set for early next month.

Despite the showing, the 6-11 Johnson may be hard-pressed to increase his playing time from a season ago, when he appeared in 10 games, averaging 4.3 minutes in those contests for the Final Four-bound Tigers.

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Date published: 10/25/2006