Todd Abbey has been named the interim girls' soccer coach for Pinecrest High School.

He replaces longtime soccer coach Larry Martin, who was relieved of his coaching duties for both the boys' and girls' teams in November. That touched off a battle between supporters of the football and soccer programs.

Abbey is a 1994 graduate of Pinecrest High School and played four years of soccer for the Patriots. He is currently the executive director of Sandhills Futbol Club, the county's newest soccer organization.

The Patriot girls' soccer team begins practice Feb. 16.

-- See Story in Sports