Socker Notebook : First Playoff Loss at Home Leaves Sockers Talking . . . and Practicing

There was a lot of talking and a lot of sprinting at the Sockers’ practice Tuesday.

First, the discussion.

This was the first get-together for the Sockers since the Minnesota Strikers shocked them, 6-1, Sunday night to hand San Diego its first playoff loss ever at home. San Diego was 26-0 in home playoff games before that night.

The loss tied the Major Indoor Soccer League championship series at one game apiece and gave the Strikers the home-field advantage. Three of the remaining five games will be played at the Met Center, including Game 3 Friday night and Game 4 Sunday night. Socker Coach Ron Newman talked to his team for approximately an hour Tuesday before it took the field at the North County Indoor/Outdoor Soccer Park in Poway. Newman went over Minnesota’s goals, one by one. And he talked about the Sockers’ mistakes, which came in bunches.

While Newman was talking to the team outside, a group of workers sat in the clubhouse watching a tape of the fifth game of the Sockers’ championship series against Baltimore last season. In that game, the Sockers beat the Blast, 5-3, to win their fourth straight indoor title.

“We should let them watch it,” said one of the guys. “That’s the way they used to play.”

“It will build up their confidence again,” said another guy.

On the tape, Steve Zungul scored two goals in the final quarter to break a 3-3 tie. “Getting rid of him is why they might not win again,” said a third viewer. The Sockers sold Zungul to the Tacoma Stars Feb. 6.

“Look at that pass from Kaz Deyna,” yelled another viewer. “He is so smart. They need some smart guys out there now.” Deyna scored the Sockers’ goal Sunday night, but he has played very little in the playoffs.

Socker fans can be spoiled. The team has won four straight championships, but it loses its first home playoff game in five years and the second-guessers are out in full force.

The tape was winding down and Newman’s team meeting was breaking up.

Time for sprints.

Players zigged and zagged in and out of the cones that were set up at each end of the field. They ran and ran and ran.

Finally, it was time for the fun stuff. Lining balls off the boards. Screaming at one another. Taunting each other. Performing magic on the field. Having a good time.

The Sockers haven’t lost two games in a row since mid-February. And after losing to St. Louis in the opening round of the playoffs, they crushed the Steamers 10-4. After losing to Tacoma in the Western Division final series, they scored six goals in the final quarter to pull out a 8-5 win in front of 19,476 fans at the Tacoma Dome.

“We get shocked into great efforts,” Newman said.

Injury Update:

Socker midfielder Branko Segota practiced Tuesday and is expected to play Friday night. Segota suffered a left calf strain against Tacoma last Wednesday and missed the first two games against Minnesota. He is the Sockers’ leading scorer in the regular season and the league’s leading scorer in the playoffs.

“There was more movement and flexibility today,” Segota said. “I can’t get the big sprint yet, but it (the knee) is better.”

Midfielder Hugo Perez did not practice Tuesday and will be re-examined today. As of Tuesday, there was a 50-50 chance Perez would play Friday night. Perez, the team’s second-leading scorer, suffered a scratched cornea in his right eye in the first quarter of Sunday’s game.

Juli Veee sat out Tuesday’s practice with a hamstring pull and Kevin Crow was out with the flu. Brian Quinn sprained his right ankle during Tuesday’s practice, but is expected to play Friday.

Socker Notes

Coach Ron Newman and a number of his players will leave for Minnesota today. They will represent the Sockers at a kickoff luncheon in Minneapolis Thursday afternoon. The rest of the team will leave San Diego Thursday afternoon. . . . Newman said he will either take Raffaele Ruotolo or Kaz Deyna on his 16-man traveling squad. “I will go for either energy or the experience of Kazee,” Newman said. . . . Defender Dave Boncek of the Kansas City Comets was named the MISL Rookie of the Year Tuesday. The 23-year old American led his rookie counterparts in six categories this season; games played (48), points (16), goals (10), assists (6), shorthanded goals (2) and game-winning goals (2). . . . The winner of the league’s MVP award will be announced today. It is expected to be a battle between the top two scorers in the league, Steve Zungul of Tacoma and Erik Rasmussen of Wichita.