Sockers Resort to a Little Psychology : P.A. Advertises a 7th Game; Players Taunt Striker Goalkeeper

The Minnesota Strikers tried not to be affected by the 10,613 fans at the Sports Arena Wednesday night. However, they couldn’t help but hear what the public address announcer kept saying.

All through the night, the Sockers advertised that tickets for Game 7 of the Major Indoor Soccer League championship series were now on sale.

“They were kidding,” Striker goalkeeper Tino Lettieri said. “There’s not going to be a seventh game. We’re going to go home and end it there.”

During Minnesota’s 7-4 loss Wednesday, Lettieri’s night ended prematurely. Coach Alan Merrick pulled Lettieri with 11:50 to play when San Diego led, 6-2.

The Sockers kept taunting Lettieri after each goal, and it was difficult for him not to retaliate.

“They were obviously intent on upsetting him and getting him red-carded,” Merrick said. “That’s why I pulled him. It wasn’t for his play.”

Lettieri’s opinion of the Sockers?

“Very cheap,” he said. “Low class. They were sending in different guys to get me aggravated. I kept my cool and drew all the cheap shots I could. I drew three penalties.”

Lettieri, who could teach professional wrestlers a few things about antics, was involved in enough second-half controversies to last most players a season.

First, a spectator threw a parrot on the field after San Diego’s Hugo Perez was called for a kicking penalty. Lettieri, remembering his former trademark, put the parrot in goal. However, senior referee Bill Maxwell removed the parrot because league rules prohibit items such as parrots in goal these days (just call it the Lettieri rule).

Then, Lettieri was given a two-minute penalty for tripping Ade Coker. The Sockers were awarded a shootout attempt, choosing Branko Segota to execute the play. Lettieri stood five feet away from Segota and stared at him before the shot. After Lettieri blocked the attempt, he patted his mouth as if to yawn.

There was more to come.

When Waad Hirmez gave the Sockers a 4-1 lead, Coker rushed to take the ball out of the goal. As happened in Game 4 at Minnesota, Lettieri nudged Coker. Ultimately, Coker was given a two-minute penalty and yellow card for ungentlemanly conduct as a war of words followed. While Coker was in the penalty box, Minnesota scored to pull within 4-2.

Lettieri drew yet another penalty later in the period, being tripped by Segota. The Strikers couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing power play.

The Sockers displayed a couple of get-even antics in the fourth period. Perez made a gesture at Lettieri after scoring a goal, and Coker laughed at Lettieri after a Jean Willrich goal gave San Diego a 6-2 lead.

Lettieri was through for the night 50 seconds after Willrich’s goal, but the crowd wasn’t finished. The spectators began chanting “We Want Tino” shortly after Lettieri departed.

Though the Sockers and their fans had gotten the last laugh for the evening, Lettieri simply pointed to the fact his team leads the series, 3-2.

There may not be a Game 7 to sell tickets for.