University of Virginia Library

Ross, Sorensen, Abramson Survive Two Cuts

Booters Try For Olympics

By Ernest Dempsey
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

After three weeks of individual
practice and two weekends of
tryouts, three University students
are still in the running for a place
on the United States Olympic
soccer team.

The trio includes fourth-year
men Mike Ross, Mike Sorensen, and
Danny Abramson.

All are varsity lettermen, and
Sorensen and Abramson were two
captains of last Fall's undefeated
and ACC Champion Virginia soccer
team.

Olympic soccer trials for the
Washington area began on February
14, at which time 16 and 18 year
olds were invited to try out. The
following weekend, another tryout
session was held, and the group
included survivors of the 16 and 18
year old cut, as well as college-age
booters.

At this time, Ross, Sorensen,
and Abramson, along with two
other Virginia soccer players, third year
man Jim Glazer and first-year
man Steve Kennelly traveled to
Washington in order to try their
luck at gaining a berth on the
Olympic team.

Goalie Abramson, and Fullbacks
Ross and Sorensen, were invited
back to Washington the weekend
before last for yet another tryout.
Each played on the Washington
area first-team during a scrimmage.

According to Ross, there were
between 30 and 40 men trying out
each weekend he and the other
Virginia hopefuls were in
Washington.

At present, the three Virginia
booters are members of the team
which will represent the
Washington area against another
team from Baltimore this weekend.
The competition will be held at
either Georgetown or American
University, and there will definitely
be representatives of the Olympic
committee present.

If Ross, Sorensen, and
Abramson make the cut this
weekend, they will be placed in
competition with teams from either
Pennsylvania or New Jersey. If the
three make it all the way, they will
probably spend part of the summer
in a soccer camp, which would
provide excellent coaching and
facilities.