Sockers’ Injuries Mount in Defeat

Socker Coach Ron Newman expected the worst after he saw San Diego forward Branko Segota and St. Louis Steamers defender Chris Kenny collide while jumping for the ball Friday night before 7,183 in The Arena.

Newman put his hands to his face as Segota rolled in pain on the playing surface. Kenny, trying to head the ball, missed, and his forehead connected with Segota’s right cheek. Segota left the game--a 3-2 loss to the Steamers--with 1 minute 24 seconds left in the first quarter and never returned.

“The kid did not mean to do it, but it was an awkward play,” said Newman.

Segota was examined at St. Louis University Hospital. X-rays showed his cheekbone had been broken in two places. Trainer Bill Taylor said Segota will be examined in San Diego today by team doctors, and his status for the remainder of the season and the playoffs is not known.

“I saw the dent in the side of his head and I knew that was it,” Newman said. “I can’t believe this. Every day we have a different problem.”

The problems kept coming Friday, on a night the Sockers lost not only the game and Segota, but also defender Brian Schmetzer, who limped off the field in the third quarter.

Taylor said Schmetzer suffered what appeared to be a pulled hamstring and will be out four to six weeks.

“Schmetzer’s leg exploded, and that was it,” Newman said. “And after all that, we got six fouls called against us. We don’t even get a chance to win the game.

“It’s almost like we’re not supposed to win. We had our chances, but we could not put the ball away. We did play well in goal. (Zoltan) Toth really kept us in the game when we needed it the most.”

Jacques Ladouceur tapped in a pass from Paul Dougherty to put San Diego ahead, 1-0, at 3:30 of the first quarter. Poli Garcia tied the game for St. Louis at 10:09 of the quarter when he pushed a shot past Toth.

Kevin Crow scored an unassisted power-play goal at 5:51 of the second quarter and the Sockers led, 2-1. Garcia’s 23rd goal of the season, a 20-foot blast off a pass from Charlie Falzon, tied the score.

Former Socker Ade Coker put the game away for the Steamers with his 16th goal when he tapped in a pass from Nebo Bandovic.

“This is the worst I have ever seen it with the injuries, maybe the worst in the history of the team,” Crow said. “This is not a excuse, though. Every team goes through this during the year. Now, I look at it as more of a challenge.”