County Places Eight on U. S. Team

There is no going back for eight Ventura County field hockey players who are participating in the U.S. Olympic Festival.

At least not yet.

When the competition ends here after the medal games on Friday, they will not be going home. They will be leaving for Ipoh, Malaysia, to play for the U. S. in the 1989 Junior World Cup.

All 16 members of the U.S. junior team are competing in the Festival. The junior team, which consists of players under 21 years of age, will be coached by Ric Purser of Los Angeles.

The World Cup will be played Aug. 8-19.

Among the players selected were Larry Amar of Camarillo; Eric Von Holtz of Simi Valley; Jeff Horrocks of Newbury Park; John O’Neill of Newbury Park; Matt Robbins of Camarillo; Taylor Trickle of Camarillo; Benjamin Maruquin of Ventura; and Tom Vano, a goalkeeper from Simi Valley.

In Tuesday’s competition, the West team, which has 14 County players on its 15-man roster, dropped a 2-1 decision to the North.

The West (0-1-2) was outshot for the third consecutive game. Amar scored the West’s goal with 3:12 remaining in the first half.

Philip Sykes of Livermore, Calif., scored the game-winner for the North at the 29:57 mark of the second half.

The South, another squad dominated by County players, outshot the East 14-5, but lost, 1-0.