Saturday, May 18, 2002
Riverhawks water-logged, still winning games
Team 2-0 despite its field problems
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Riverhawks have found rain to be their biggest adversary this season.
Showers have delayed repairs to the soccer team's field at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds for more than three weeks, forcing the Riverhawks to play their first four home games elsewhere.
The Riverhawks, who play in the A-League of the United Soccer Leagues, opened their season with victories May 4 against the Milwaukee Rampage and May 11 against the Portland Timbers. Both games were played at Sycamore High School.
Today's contest against the Minnesota Thunder will be played at Landmark Christian Academy, the first of two games at the site.
The Riverhawks open with six consecutive home games.
“I want to get on our field,” general manager Richard Wanamaker said. “It's hard to constantly travel from one field to another. You get used to your home field.”
The Riverhawks haven't had a chance to get acquainted with the fairgrounds in Carthage. During the offseason, the team signed a 10-year lease with the facility. Its previous home was Galbreath Field.
Despite problems with the field, head coach Nick Ranieri is satisfied with his team's play. This week, Shawn Rockey (St. Xavier High School) and Chris Wanamaker (Oak Hills High School) were named to the A-League Team of the Week. During last Saturday's 1-0 win over Portland, Rockey scored the game's lone goal and Wanamaker made eight saves.
“The fact that we won (both games), that was good for us,” Ranieri said. “That means we've got a good team that can adjust to the different fields and environments.”
Richard Wanamaker, Chris' father, said if rain doesn't delay work this week, the field will be evened out and sod planted. He expects the field to be ready in time for the Riverhawks' May 31 home game against the Indiana Blast. The sod takes about 12 days to take root.
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Riverhawks water-logged, still winning games
