Ribbons Unite Anti-porn Forces 
Photo 
Times Leader/lewis Geyer

Merlon Murchison 
Oct. 22, 1992 
Merlon R. Murchison, 56, Of The Lincoln Plaza Apartments, Wilkes-barre, Died 
Thursday Following A Lengthy Illness.

Sunday, October 25, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1C/7C QUICK WORDS: HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER 





DECISION TIME -- Lake-Lehman soccer star Brian Kelly, shown on the right
being guarded by Dallas' Matt Sleightholm, is one of the nation's top college
prospects this season. Kelly has narrowed his choices to Duke, Notre Dame and
Virginia, but has yet to make a decision. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By JOHN ERZAR &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Times Leader Sports Writer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Brian Kelly isn't worried about college. Duke University wants him for its
soccer team. So does Notre Dame and the University of Virginia. So did several
other Division I colleges and universities which have since been crossed off
his list. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 They can all wait. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kelly, Lake-Lehman's soccer star who is arguably the best player to ever
come out of the Wyoming Valley Conference, has a more pressing desire. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't think college has that much weight on my shoulders right now,"
said Kelly, a senior midfielder who is also a member of the United States U-20
World Cup team. "I'm focused on the high school season. I want to perform
well, and have the team perform well." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Black Knights have performed quite well. They won the WVC Division 1-A
title with a 14-1 record, and are headed for both the WVC Division 1 and
District 2 Class AA playoffs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kelly has also put up some impressive numbers, 26 goals and nine assists in
15 WVC games. Still, the three-time WVC all-star and two-time Division 1 MVP
believes his game hasn't quite measured up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Overall, I'm a little disappointed," said Kelly, the 18 year-old son of
Linda and Mark Kelly of Shavertown. "I haven't played up to the potential that
I know that I'm capable of. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "But I'm starting to play better, and I might be peaking at the right time.
I'm just going to give it 110 percent whenever I go out there." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In reality, Kelly is still the same player who has been named the Gatorade
Pennsylvania Player of the Year, to the Met Life All-American second team, and
a PARADE magazine All-American in 1991. He's has just found the going tougher. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Opponents have made stopping Kelly the crux of their game plans. Usually,
opponents put their best defensive player on him, playing him man-to-man. But
to the credit of his teammates, they have picked up the slack. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "With the marking much more heavy on me this year, it's a challenge to get
free, get the ball, and do the things that I was able to do last year," Kelly
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That hasn't discouraged several Division I colleges and universities from
pursuing him. Notre Dame's head soccer coach has attended a Lehman game and
met with Kelly and his parents. Duke and Virginia are also in hot persuit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kelly hasn't made a decision yet, and doesn't plan on for awhile. He has
visited all three campuses, met with college officials, and talked to their
students. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I have a checklist of what's important in choosing a school," said Kelly,
who plans on majoring in pre-med. "My parents and I will run through that
list, and see which school fits me best." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Any three of the finalists would be a good choice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Duke is currently ranked second in the nation by Soccer America . The Blue
Devils are 2-1-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 11-1-2 overall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Notre Dame has been rebuilding the past few seasons. The Fighting Irish are
4-4 in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and 8-5-1 overall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Virginia is the nation's top-ranked team, according to Soccer America . The
Cavaliers are 5-0 in the ACC and 14-0 overall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Soccer has always been a big part of Kelly's life, but it's been even
bigger lately. Through his commitment to Lehman, the U.S. U-20 team, and his
Delco Eastern U.S. regional team, Kelly has been playing or training year
round. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He is scheduled to rejoin the U.S. U-20 team in December as it begins
preparation for the 1993 U-20 World Cup in Australia next summer. There are
two optional tourneys for U-20 players around Thanksgiving, but Kelly said he
will likely bypass them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Every now and then, I get burned out," said Kelly. "But I've learned to
take a week off and do anything that doesn't involve soccer. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "After about a week, I'm itching to get back in there again. You sort of
have a new spirit. You're sort of revived." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And when Kelly does finally make his decision, either Duke, Notre Dame, or
Virginia will get some revitalization, too.

Top Gun Soccer Superstar Kelly Undaunted By Colleges Photo Times Leader/cara Menichelli