JIM GORSEK : Socker Coach Ron Newman May Break Pattern and Start Hot Goalkeeper in Game 5

People around the Major Indoor Soccer League often talk about how easy it must be for Ron Newman to coach the Sockers.

Some say that all Newman has to do is put Steve Zungul, Branko Segota and Jean Willrich on the field and watch them score. With such talent, it’s not unexpected when the Sockers rewrite the record book as they did Saturday in beating Baltimore, 14-2, in Game 4 of the MISL championship series. But before the Sockers attempt to clinch the championship Tuesday night at the Sports Arena, Newman will have an important decision to make.

Should he start Jim Gorsek, the team’s hottest goalkeeper? Or should he keep his alternating plan intact and start Zoltan Toth before playing Gorsek?

“I won’t make that decision until the day of the game,” Newman said Sunday. “I will consider starting Jimmy Gorsek, of course. Jimmy’s way of dictating the game is very important against Baltimore, plus he’s confident now. Zollie had a great year, but he might not be as confident now. I won’t make a decision until I look at all angles.”

Most signs seem to be pointing to Gorsek.

In the 1984-85 playoffs, Gorsek has a 6-1 record and 2.36 goals-against average. Toth is 3-2 record with a 5.92 goals-against average.

Gorsek’s only loss was when Minnesota was awarded the victory after the Sockers used an ineligible shooter in a shootout.

“We say Jimmy is 7-0 in the playoffs,” Newman said. “The league can say he is 6-1 with an asterisk. If the MISL wants to keep their stats, then we’ll keep our own legitimate stats.”

After Minnesota was awarded the win in Game 4 of the semifinals, it was Toth’s turn to play in the deciding fifth game. But Newman decided to go with Gorsek, saying Gorsek wanted to prove something after having a win taken away. And Gorsek proved plenty by shutting out Minnesota in Game 5, 7-0.

Gorsek has proven to be the more forceful of the two goalkeepers. He is known for his take-charge attitude and yelling at his own players. Toth is considered more laid-back.

“I like to control what is going on in front of me,” Gorsek said. “I’m very stubborn and will tell my defenders what to do.”

Gorsek is making the job a lot easier for his forwards. By his own account, he started four of five of the Sockers’ scoring breakaways Saturday with passes from the goal.

“I play a very strategic game,” Gorsek said. “I try to force the other team to come at me. If I can get one of them to commit themselves to coming at me, it will free me to play the ball.”

Numbers are a concern to Gorsek. His 2.36 goals-against average is lower than the league playoff record of 2.50 set by Pittsburgh’s Krys Sobieski in 1982. Sobieski’s record was set in two playoff games, five fewer than Gorsek has started this year. Gorsek also played the final eight minutes of an 11-7 quarterfinal win over Kansas City when Newman pulled Toth.

Is Gorsek playing better than ever?

“Right now, it’s just that the team is playing very well in front of me,” he said. “I don’t have a great deal to do. A lot of what I do is give direction. I try to get us started on the counterattack.”

All things considered, it won’t be surprising if Newman shuns his rotating system and starts Gorsek on Tuesday.