Date: Fri 08-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

John-Ball-Feature

Full Text:

Feature, John Ball

B Y T.W YATT

It's every coach and athletes' dream to " go out a winner, " and in the case

of Newtown's John Ball - he keeps on doing just that.

Ball, who finished his brilliant high school career at NHS by scoring the

winning goal in the state championship game, concluded his collegiate career

on December 3, by helping Southern Connecticut State University to its second

Division II NCAA National Championship in four years.

Ball was the co-captain and starting marking back for the 21-1-1 SCSU Owls who

defeated Cal State Bakersfield in overtime of the semifinals and then went on

to shut out the tournament's host team, the University of South Carolina-

Spartanburg, 2-0 in the National Title game.

" This tops it all off, " Ball snickered. " I really can't explain how great

this feeling is. It'll take a little while to really sink in but, man, this is

great. "

Southern was never in any danger of losing the title game, having taken an

early lead and upping it to 2-0 just halfway through the first period. From

there Ball and his defense, which surrendered only .73 goals per game this

season, went to work on its 13th shutout of the year.

" It was an easier game than we expected, " said Ball, who had earlier been

named second-team All-Conference. " We were focussed and prepared and you

could just tell during warmups, when we were singing and dancing and laughing,

that we were going to win. The other teams were just looking at us wondering

what the heck was going on. "

For each of the other three participating teams it marked the first time in

the semifinals of the NCAA Division II National Championship. Ball and the

Owls had reached the semis in each of his four years with the team and were

playing in the finals for the third time. Ball thinks the experience factor

made a difference.

" The other teams were all tense and nervous, " he said. " You could really

tell when you went out to meet the captains. I think we were considered the

team to beat. "

During its 21-1-1 championship season this fall, Southern tied Tampa 2-2 and

its only loss came 4-3 in overtime against its rival, Franklin Pierce.

Tampa was defeated in the quarterfinals of the National Championship

Tournament and Southern was pitted against Pierce in its quarterfinal game,

winning 4-3 as Ball assisted the game-winning goal in overtime.

" The Pierce game was by far our toughest game in the tournament, " Ball said.

" Once we found out that Tampa lost, and Seattle was already out, we knew we

had a pretty good chance to win it. Those were our big rivals. We thought that

we would win it if we could get through Pierce. "

Ball played in seven games in 1992 when Southern last won the national title,

but didn't see any time in the championship game. Though he earned a

championship ring that year, he yearned for another in each of his next three

seasons. " I'm getting a new ring now! " he mused.

In his four seasons at Southern, Ball helped the team compile an impressive

record of 76-5-9. With Ball on the field, the Owls' defense allowed only a

total of 35 goals in 75 games. He also scored seven goals (five of them game

winners) and had 13 assists from his defensive position.

In his three varsity seasons with the Newtown High School team, as an

offensive player, Ball led the Indians to an overall mark of 49-6 while

breaking every goal scoring record in the book.

His seven-year scholastic record of 125-11-9 proves one thing beyond a doubt.

. .

John Ball is a winner.