Former MLS Players Shine: Saul Martinez, who tallied four points on a pair of goals in 15 appearances for the Miami Fusion of Major League Soccer a year ago, led the Hampton Roads Mariners to a season-opening, 2-0 victory over Richmond with a pair of strikes in the gameÆs final 10 minutes. Although the game was the season-opener for both teams, it was crucial because of its dual role as a U.S. Open Cup qualifier. With the victory, the Mariners not only keep pace with the Charleston Battery in the Atlantic Division, but jump to the top of three-team Group 5 in qualifying for the countryÆs oldest soccer tournament, now in its 87th year. In an evenly contested encounter in front of 1,969 fans at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex, things seemed to change for the worse for the host Mariners when midfielder Jeff Dominguez was ejected in the 63rd minute. But, despite being a man down, Martinez gave Hampton Roads the advantage in the 80th minute when he latched onto a free kick taken by defender Steve Kraemer and slipped a header past Richmond goalkeeper Mike McGinty for the go-ahead goal. Four minutes later, he put the game out of reach by putting another shot past McGinty, this time without any help. Goalkeeper Jon Busch preserved the shutout for Hampton Roads with a four-save performance, but was helped by a teammate before halftime when Derrick EtienneÆs diving header was cleared off the line with just more than a minute to play before the break. The victory for Hampton Roads kept them just four points behind Charleston with a game in hand in the Atlantic Division. The Battery defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks for the second time in as many weeks, this time by a 1-0 count in the A-LeagueÆs first overtime game of the season. Ivailo Ilarionov, the hero of the BatteryÆs 1999 Open Cup upset over D.C. United with an overtime winner, scored another sudden-death goal to down the Silverbacks after entering the game in the 70th minute. IlarionovÆs goal averted the possibility of the game going down as the first draw in USL history. Dusty Hudock shut down the Silverbacks for his second consecutive shutout, facing eight shots and making three saves. He leads the league in goals-against average, having not allowed a goal in 184 minutes. Another player who spent time with the Fusion in 1999 had an impact in the A-League over the weekend. Jason Boyce (ex-Colorado and Miami in MLS) paced the Orange County Waves to a surprising 3-0 victory over two-time Pacific Division champion San Diego. Boyce did not have any points in four appearances for Miami last year. In other A-League action over the weekend, the leagueÆs No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, Kevin Jeffrey, made his debut for the Bay Area Seals and scored a dramatic 89th minute game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Indiana. Foxboro match postponed: Due to inclement weather and field conditions at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., the Boston Bulldogs postponed their match with U.S. Pro-40, which was scheduled to be the first game of a doubleheader that included MLSÆs Revolution playing host to the Chicago Fire. “This decision will ultimately benefit Bulldogs fans, the Foxboro Stadium playing surface and our relationship with the New England Revolution,” said Boston General Manager Joe Cummings. “We will reschedule another doubleheader at Foxboro Stadium later in the season where, hopefully, weather will not be an issue.” Coaches and staff from the Revolution and Fire had raised concerns about the playing surface being cut up immediately prior to their MLS game. Ultimately, though, they would have allowed the game to take place, but the Bulldogs decided it was in the best interests of everyone involved, especially the fans, to re-schedule the game. Pro-40Æs scheduled encounter the night before with Long Island was also postponed due to field conditions. Makeup dates for the two games are to be announced. Rhythm’s DeVall called up: Defender/midfielder Danny DeVall was called up by Major League SoccerÆs Colorado Rapids for their 3-2 victory over Columbus Saturday. The 27-year-old former University of Memphis star entered the game in the 60th minute after the Rapids took a 3-1 lead through Junior AgogoÆs first goal of the season. Colorado improved to 3-3 on the season with the victory. The 5-foot-8, 160-pound DeVall compiled nine points on four goals and an assist in 21 games for the Rhythm last season. The Rapids also called up Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Preston Burpo to serve as backup while starting keeper Adin Brown is with the U.S. U23 National Team for the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament. Riverhawks hopeful: The Cincinnati Riverhawks, who marked their return to Galbreath Field with an exhibition match against MLS’s Columbus Crew April 25, are 3-1-1 during the preseason with victories against the University of Cincinnati, Union College and reigning PDL champion Chicago. Cincinnati last played at Galbreath Field during the 1998 season but moved to the Town & Country Sports Complex for 1999. The Cincinnati-Columbus match was the second of 14 scheduled exhibition matches between A-League and MLS teams. Los Angeles defeated El Paso, 2-1, in the opener of the series. Look ahead: The new-look Connecticut Wolves open their 2000 season on the road with back-to-back games at Richmond and Hampton Roads. Also opening this weekend are the Raleigh Capital Express, Toronto Lynx, Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Tennessee Rhythm. The Long Island Rough Riders play host to Boston Wednesday to open their season after being forced to postpone last weekÆs game against U.S. Pro-40 due to field conditions. In Open Cup qualifying action, Atlanta hosts Raleigh and Orange County is at El Paso. Wednesday, April 26, 2000 16 — Boston @ Long Island 7:30 Friday, April 28, 2000 17 — Connecticut @ Richmond 7:00 Saturday, April 29, 2000 18 — Connecticut @ Hampton Roads 7:30 19 — Raleigh @ Atlanta 7:30 20 — Toronto @ Pittsburgh 7:35 21 — Indiana @ Tennessee 8:30 23 — Orange County @ El Paso 9:35 All times listed are Eastern Transactions: The Vancouver 86ers have re-signed the clubÆs all-time leading scorer, Domenic Mobilio. He is an original 86er with 161 goals scored in 13 seasons with the team. Vancouver also reacquired forward Chris Clarke, who was the teamÆs fourth leading scorer in 1998. Also returning for the 86ers will be John Sulentic, who broke the A-League record for assists in a season with 19 in 1999 à The Toronto Lynx have signed former Hampton Roads MarinersÆ midfielder Lyndon Hooper à Former Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Steve Bell has joined the Riverhounds broadcast team as color commentator. Pittsburgh also re-signed defender/midfielder Jaman Tripoli to a two-year contract. National team duty: Richmond forward Dwayne DeRosario and midfielder Steve Kindel are representing Canada at the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Hershey, Penn. à Charleston Battery defenders Brent Sancho and Gilbert Jean-Baptiste may face each other in a pair of World Cup qualifiers on May 7 and 20 between Trinidad & Tobago and Haiti. A-round the country: RichmondÆs opening-day loss to Hampton Roads marked only the third time in eight seasons that the Kickers have dropped their season-opener à Having gone scoreless in its first two games, the Indiana Blast is approaching the team mark of 219 scoreless minutes set last season à The Connecticut Wolves and the University of Connecticut played to a 0-0 draw in an exhibition match à Brian Wood scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as the Seattle Sounders defeated the Premier Development LeagueÆs Seattle Sounders Select, 5-2, in a preseason match in Silverdale, Wash. à The Minnesota Thunder edged the PDLÆs Des Moines Menace, 1-0, in a preseason match at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. à The Hershey Wildcats defeated the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 1-0, in an exhibition match at Shaler Area High School in Pittsburgh à The Rochester Raging Rhinos claimed a pair of preseason victories, stopping the PDL champion Chicago Sockers, 4-1, and nipping the New Hampshire Phantoms of the D3 Pro League, 2-1. Michael Kirmse had two goals and an assist in the two games, including the game-winner in stoppage time against New Hampshire. Sponsorship front: Shell, a major sponsor of the Indiana Blast, is providing 15,000 colorful magnets featuring the Blast and W-LeagueÆs Indiana Blaze 2000 schedules à The Charleston BatteryÆs May 1 exhibition match versus MLSÆs Tampa Bay Mutiny has been dubbed æMonday Night FootballÆ à The San Diego Flash has introduced its first series of player trading cards in conjunction with GrassRoots Soccer, Ltd. The 16-card set, designed by GrassRoots Founder Carl Hammond, feature an action shot of the player on the front and a listing of his statistics, power rating, personal favorites and a short bio on the back à The Minnesota Thunder will play its annual Kickoff Classic indoor intrasquad game April 30 at 6 p.m. Central at BlaineÆs Fogerty Arena.