Sockers Must Work Overtime to Win One for Newmans

The Sockers won one for the coach and his wife on Wednesday night at the Sports Arena.

With Coach Ron Newman surprisingly on the bench, the Sockers beat Minnesota in overtime, 6-5, in Game 2 of their Major Indoor Soccer League semifinal series before 10,143 fans.

Jean Willrich won the game with a 40-foot shot 1:15 into overtime, giving the Sockers a 2-0 series lead. They could sweep the series with a win at Minnesota on Friday night.

Newman did not arrive at Wednesday’s game until 7:05, half an hour before kickoff. He spent the last two days at the side of his wife, Olive, who had cancer surgery on Tuesday morning. Olive Newman was in stable condition Wednesday.

“We were surprised when Ron came because we knew the situation with his wife,” Hugo Perez said. “It’s a difficult situation. All we wanted to do was win the game for him and her.”

Newman had not intended to attend the game but did so at his wife’s insistence. Fred Whitacre, the Padres’ marketing director and former Socker general manager, stayed with Olive Newman during the game. Ron Newman left the arena immediately after Willrich’s goal.

“Olive insisted that I come,” Newman said before the game. “I told her that I would make my decision at 6:50. My daughter, Tracy, brought me a suit and I changed in the hospital ward. Olive had walked around during the day, and she could go home (today).

“She talked about how she had only missed one game before. That was when we won the (North American Soccer League) championship in 1971 in Dallas and Tracy broke her jaw.”

Newman missed the final game of last year’s NASL indoor championship series when Tracy was having pregnancy complications. Tracy gave birth three months early to a two-pound, two-ounce girl, Alexandra.

“Last year, I learned about premature babies,” Newman said. “This year, I’m going to learn about cancer. I’m hoping for the same miracle again.”

Tracy attended Wednesday night’s game with her 13-month-old daughter.

The Sockers nearly won the game one minute into overtime when Branko Segota’s shot was blocked at the last second by goalkeeper Tino Lettieri.

On an ensuing corner kick, George Katakalidis fanned on a potential shot at an open net. The ball went out to Fernando Clavijo, who passed to Willrich.

“When the ball got to Fernando, I said ‘give it to me’ ” Willrich said. “The goalie was still in the corner of the net when I shot. He could not see the ball.”

Lettieri: “I saw the ball. He was at the point and had a clean shot on goal. He drilled the ball real low and it went in. I don’t think it was a great, great shot.”

With two minutes left in regulation and the game tied, 5-5, Minnesota’s Drago Dumbovic had a great chance to win the game. However, Socker goalkeeper Jim Gorsek blocked the shot at the last instant.

“I didn’t even see it,” Gorsek said. “I saw a blur and stuck my hand out. The ball went through two of our players and one of theirs, or one of ours and two of theirs. It was a reaction save.”

At the outset, the Sockers had reacted quite slowly. Minnesota’s Chris Dangerfield scored 10 seconds into the game, the quickest opening goal in MISL playoff history.

Brian Quinn tied the game at 3:49 for the Sockers, scoring from 30 feet off Steve Zungul’s first of three assists.

Thompson Usiyan gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead at 6:15 of the second quarter. Zungul tied the game, 2-2, on a 15-foot shot off Quinn’s assist at 12:13.

For the third time, Minnesota took the lead on Dumbovic’s shot off a two-on-one breakaway at 4:23 of the third quarter. Segota tied the game 18 seconds later, scoring in front off Zungul’s pass.

Minnesota took Lead No. 4 when Gregg Thompson scored at 7:33 of the third quarter. Segota gave the Sockers Tie No. 4 with a goal at 10:09.

San Diego took its first lead, 5-4, on a Perez goal 26 seconds into the fourth quarter. Usiyan tied the game with 5:25 remaining in regulation.

The Sockers proceeded to win their 11th straight playoff game and 24th in 26th all-time playoff games. They have a 16-0 playoff home record at home.

“Most of the guys played under their level,” Zungul said. “It was a good game for the fans, but we know full well we didn’t play the game expected of us.”

MISL PLAYOFFS

AT A GLANCE

SOCKERS VS. STRIKERS

(BEST-OF-FIVE SERIES)

Game 1 Sockers 8, Strikers 1 Game 2 Sockers 6, Strikers 5 (OT) Game 3 Friday Minnesota 5:35 p.m. Game 4 Sunday Minnesota 5:35 p.m. Game 5 Tuesday Sports Arena 7:35 p.m. NOTE: Game 4 and Game 5 if necessary. All times PST.

OTHER SERIES

Baltimore vs. Cleveland (Series tied at 1. Next game Friday)