Zungul Gets Some Assistance From Reserves as Sockers Beat Wichita

Wherever the Sockers go, Steve Zungul is the team’s attention getter.

Before road games, Zungul usually is featured in local newspapers because he is the Major Indoor Soccer League’s all-time leading scorer. He’s what reporters call good copy.

Sunday afternoon at the Kansas Coliseum, Zungul again was on the media’s most wanted list. And for good reason. He gained the MISL’s scoring lead by getting two goals and four assists as the Sockers beat Wichita, 8-1, in front of 9,460 fans.

But two lesser-known Sockers, who were able to dress after the game without fanfare, also were deserving of credit in San Diego’s victory. Jacques Ladouceur had scored his first point since opening night with an assist and Waad Hirmez scored his first goal since signing with the Sockers six days ago.

Ladouceur drew considerable attention when he scored on his first-ever MISL shot on Nov. 17 against Los Angeles. But he had all but disappeared since then.

Six Socker regulars did not play against Wichita Sunday because of injuries, and Ladouceur and Hirmez got an opportunity to show Coach Ron Newman what they could do.

“The times I was not playing this year, we had good people playing,” Ladouceur said. “I just want to stay around as long as possible. I don’t want to have to keep proving myself in order to stay.”

Ladouceur fed Jean Willrich with a perfect pass, and he scored at 14:21 of the third period to give the Sockers a 4-1 lead. It was their second goal within 10 seconds, a team record.

“It’s nice to get assists,” Ladouceur said. “When you score goals, you go on an ego trip sometimes. That hurts you. Assists can help make you more consistent.”

Meanwhile, Hirmez has little time to prove himself. He was signed to a 10-day contract last week when the Sockers suffered their string of injuries.

Despite not being on the roster until recently, Hirmez has been practicing with the Sockers since the start of the season. He was cut by Wichita just before the season began.

“When the Sockers signed me, I was hoping they’d let me play,” said Hirmez, a Point Loma High School graduate. “This is my chance to make it. I don’t know how the goal will affect my chances. Believe me, there is no better feeling than scoring for San Diego, especially against Wichita.”

Hirmez scored at 8:41 of the fourth period, giving San Diego a 6-1 lead. He scored alone in front off a Zungul pass.

“When his foot went to the ball, it seemed like he was in slow motion,” Newman said. “He just wanted to make sure he put the ball in.”

Early on, the Sockers had trouble putting the ball into the net. They went to the locker room at halftime tied, 1-1, with only a Willrich goal at 6:06 of the second period.

Branko Segota, who later suffered a groin injury, scored the game-winning goal at 4:11 of the third period off Zungul’s assist. Brian Quinn scored at 14:11, then Willrich’s goal from Ladouceur put the game away 10 seconds later.

San Diego scored four unanswered goals in the fourth period, including two into an open net after Wichita pulled goalie Mike Dowler.

The Sockers, playing without three regular defenders because of injuries, had one of their better defensive games. Even Zungul, who does not like to play defense, oftentimes came back to help.

“Everybody realizes we are a little short on defense,” Newman said. “The forward players can’t just say that there are two or three men back already. They are coming back to help.”

Goalie Zoltan Toth had one of his best games, recording 16 saves. The last time against Wichita, Toth had been pulled at halftime after allowing three goals.

“I remembered my last Wichita game,” Toth said. “I had to concentrate twice as much. With three defenders out, I had to do much better.”

The Sockers (24-8) completed a four-game trip with three wins. Wichita (14-14) has lost six of its last seven games.

“I’d like to give Wichita credit,” Newman said, “but I cannot give them credit. They weren’t even playing well enough to beat a team like us in the fourth game of a four-game trip. We always seemed to be more capable of doing things than they were.”