Sockers Fall Flat in Wichita
Jean Willrich of the Sockers pounded a 30-foot shot into the goal early in the fourth period Sunday.
It was a special goal. It was the only one the Sockers scored as the Wichita Wings took a rousing 5-1 victory to narrow San Diego’s lead in the season series to 3-2.
The loss left the Sockers a half-game behind second-place Kansas City in the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Western Division.
Wichita’s Seamus McDonagh became only the second keeper in the MISL to win 20 games this season. The first was Krys Sobieski of the Dallas Sidekicks.
Why is San Diego’s one goal so important?
It kept McDonagh from being the first goalkeeper to shut out the Sockers. Sunday’s game was only the fourth time overall--but the second time this season--that the Sockers were held to a single goal.
“To be fair, they have some fantastic players missing,” said McDonagh of the injury-plagued Sockers, who were beginning a three-game trip.
They are missing such key players as Brian Quinn, Hugo Perez and Juli Veee. And sitting in the press box, suspended for one game after drawing his 22nd minute in penalties, was the team leader, Branko Segota.
Kim Roentved, who had two goals and an assist, looked at it another way.
“I think we proved something to ourselves today,” Roentved said. “Regardless of the three players who are out, we showed them that when you play in the Kansas Coliseum, you have to prepare yourselves. It was a great win for us, especially the way we beat them.”
The way the Wings beat them was to start strong, kill off two penalties and score two goals in the last minute and a half when San Diego pulled its goalkeeper for a sixth attacker.
Kevin Kewley scored first for the Wings on a pass from Erik Rasmussen. On a restart from the top of the penalty arc, Rasmussen nailed Kewley with a pass past San Diego’s defensive wall. Kewley scored on a half volley outside the left post.
Roentved made it 2-0, drilling one of his blazing shots between goalkeeper Jim Gorsek’s legs.
That shot had all the intimidating velocity of the old Roentved rockets. Gorsek was in position and was ready. He got both hands on the ball, but that was not enough.
Dave Hoggan put the Wings ahead by 3-0, winning a ball from Gorsek and Kevin Crow at the near post and firing from point-blank range. It was a power-play goal scored when the Wings had a 5-on-3 advantage.
Roentved’s three points represented one of his largest offensive outputs since he recovered from a severe knee injury. It raised his scoring total to 20 points, barely one-third of his output last year.
Roentved and McDonagh both said the thought of shutting out the Sockers was not on their minds.
“You have to look at the game overall,” said Roentved. “We should have scored a few more and they could have, too.”
McDonagh said the only thing on his mind was winning. No matter what shape the team is in, “beating San Diego is a feather in your cap,” he said.
Willrich ended the shutout bid when he dribbled in from the red line and fired past defender Terry Rowe.
Willrich said it was a lucky hit. “Maybe this goal he should have saved, and three or four of my shots he should not save,” said Willrich, who did most of the Sockers’ shooting in the absence of so many offensive players.
Ron Newman, San Diego coach, was somewhat subdued. He said he felt his team played better the second half and put the pressure on Wichita.
“I felt they were getting nervous at the end. Today, it was our own fault. We got good chances but we didn’t finish. That’s usually our calling card, finishing. But without Quinn and Segota and others we aren’t the same.”
The Sockers also missed two power-play chances and their man-advantage drought went to 0 for 9.
