Sounds like a great heavyweight championship bout doesn't it. On April 11th, former WA HS All-Americans Todd Thorpe (Curtis '98) and Jeff "Mungo" Pattison (Mercer Island '99) will square off in a top Division III match up when Whittier (CA) travels east to take on Roanoke (Virginia). Walax.com asked Todd and Jeff to provide a little backdrop for the game:

MUNGO: So far our season has been full of high's and low's. We started out our season playing really well. We headed up to play Washington College and beat them on their home turf. Something Roanoke hasn't done since 1995. On the following Saturday we lost for the first time ever to Lynchburg College. This was the start of a three game losing skid. The following Wednesday and Saturday we faced two number one teams in Washington and Lee University and divison 2 Limestone college. Coming off a three game losing streak is heartbreaking. We kept our heads high and kept practicing hard and defeated Pfeiffer University in convicing fashion 26 to 3.

On April 11th Whittier college of California will visit the Roanoke Maroons. This is the game I've really been looking forward to this season. For the first time since since the 1999 season, I'll be able to play against someone from home. I played against Todd in High School and then with him in Vail. So, when he comes to town, I know I'll be all fired up to play and I'm sure he will be too. I just hope that I get a chance to go one on one with him.

(Walax.com Note: Jeff scored his first NCAA goal last weekend, his stats are poster here)

THORPE: We are currently 5-3 going into our spring break trip back east.  First on our list is Lynchburg who previously beat Roanoke by one
goal.  Then we play Roanoke, Stevens Tech., and Salisbury.  We have to win all four to make the playoffs. We have been up and down all season and we feel we match up with Roanoke pretty evenly, so it will come down to who comes to play.  Our team struggles when we get down so it is important for us to get the lead early and control the tempo.  

Be sure to return to walax.com for a recap of the game by Jeff and Todd.