VIRGINIA BEACH MARINERS 2006 PREVIEW

LAST SEASON:

2005 results:	7-7-14; 28 points; -13 diff; 11^th place; missed playoffs
RD's 2005 prediction:	8-5-17, 8^th place

The Mariners have been in a downward spiral since 2003, when they qualified for the playoffs (and were knocked out by eventual champion Charleston). Last season, they were stinky across the board, scoring the fewest goals and allowing one-third more than they managed to tally. The one category Virginia Beach managed to succeed was thuggery, led by Jeff Bilyk, who was still able to earn four yellows and a red despite missing a significant portion of the season with an ankle injury. Over the last two years, Bilyk has 16 yellows and a red in just 40 games. RD can envision him playing for Puerto Rico in the future.

Fenger

Woods

Bilyk

McFaul

Demmin

Simmonds

Seacrest, Out:

F David Castellanos (4+1=9); one TOW

F John Barry Nusum (4+1=9)

F Hamisi Amani-Dove (2+2=6); two TOWs

M Darren Caskey (5+5=15); All-League 2^nd Team

Back in the Fold

F Jakob Fenger (2+2=6); 1414 minutes

M Steve Shak (1+1=3); 2324 minutes

M Jeff Bilyk; 1327 minutes

D Steve Danbusky; 2429 minutes; two TOWs

D Alan Woods; 8 starts after arrival from Charleston

GK Matthew Nelson; 1.384 GAA; 6 SO

Fresh Meat

F Greg Simmonds; from Charleston

F McColm Cephas; on loan from Richmond (USL D2)

F Gary Brooks; from Atlanta

M Shane McFaul; from Notts County (England)

M Pato Aguilera; from Rochester

D Craig Demmin; from Rochester

D Kupono Low; from Sligo Rovers (Ireland)

GK Chase Harrison; from Real Salt Lake (MLS)

Caskey

Castellanos

Nusum

THE LOWDOWN:

2006’s most improved team should be the Mariners, who made significant roster improvements during the off-season. The most noticeable are the new crop of strikers, though one should not overlook the defensive upgrades, which will improve some of Nelson’s goalkeeping numbers this year. The only thing stopping Virginia Beach from making a serious run for the playoffs will be team chemistry because adding this many new faces – especially temperamental forwards – could cause this team to self-implode after a promising start.