Zungul Hobbled; Sockers Set to Face the Force

Socker forward Steve Zungul is held scoreless in a Major Indoor Soccer League game about as often as Cleveland is graced with 70-degree weather in December.

Last year’s MISL leading scorer had registered at least one point in 27 consecutive regular season games before being blanked by the Blast in the Sockers’ season opening 3-2 overtime loss Friday night.

He had a goal or assist in 44 of 48 regular season games last year and holds the MISL mark of 76 straight games with a point (14 in 1878-79, 32 in 1979-80 and 30 in 1980-81). Zungul has two streaks of 26 straight games with a goal.

Going into tonight’s game against the Cleveland Force at the Richfield Coliseum (3:35 p.m. live and broadcast at 7:25 p.m. on KLZZ AM 600), Zungul is more concerned with being able to run than with any type of scoring streak.

He has Achilles’ tendinitis in his left foot. For a while last week, it appeared he would not be able to make the team’s opening trip.

“If I was selfish,” Zungul said, “I wouldn’t have made the trip. My foot hurts a lot, and it is tough to walk. I have to keep icing it.”

Watching Zungul hobble through the Cleveland Airport made his performance Friday night that much more impressive.

“He played better than I thought he would be able to,” Socker Coach Ron Newman said. “He made several good openings for us, and I thought he played well.”

Wearing colorful hightop running shoes instead of his regular soccer shoes, Zungul was able to move up and down the field. But he had a hard time making his patented quick cuts inside the penalty area.

“I really can’t cut,” Zungul said, “but I was still able to make things happen.”

Zungul was credited with a team-high seven shots on goal, but he said he felt he had only two legitimate chances at a goal.

“I don’t think of points,” said the most prolific scorer in the game. “And if I don’t think about the foot while I’m out on the field, I am able to play.”

Socker Notes

San Diego will play without Juli Veee (flu) and Brian Quinn (sprained right knee) for the second game in a row. Neither made the trip. Defenseman George Katakalidis hurt his hip during practice Friday and did not play much in the second half against the Blast, but he is expected to be able to play tonight. . . . Cleveland lost its season opener in Pittsburgh, 6-5, on a goal by Helmut Dudek with 1:08 to play. On Wednesday, the Force traded their all-time leading scorer, Keith Furphy, to Kansas City for the Comets’ No. 1 draft choices in 1986, ’87 and ’88. Furphy had played in 188 straight regular-season games for Cleveland and had 185 goals and 105 assists in four seasons. Personality conflicts with Coach Timo Liekoski finally led to his departure. . . . Talk about being fair, Coach Ron Newman said the reason Zoltan Toth started Friday night was because Jim Gorsek started the last game of the season against Baltimore on May 28. Gorsek is scheduled to start tonight. . . . The MISL is using a livelier ball this season. Just ask Branko Segota, who kicked a couple balls into the upper deck at the Civic Center Friday night.