Sockers’ Dull Play, Klopas’ Hat Trick Lead to 7-3 Defeat
There wasn’t much the Sockers could do about losing to the Chicago Sting Friday night. That’s because the Sockers simply didn’t do much in a 7-3 loss in front of 5,124 in the Rosemont Horizon.
Frank Klopas scored his fourth hat trick of the season for Chicago, and Mickey Zyayo, Paul Krumpe, Ben Collins and Edgardo Lopez added one goal apiece. Former Los Angeles Lazer All-Star midfielder Batata added four assists for the Sting, which ended a two-game losing streak.
For the Sockers, who lost their fifth straight game, Waad Hirmez scored twice and Jean Willrich once. This was the final regular-season between the teams.
Chicago started strong and had a 5-3 lead by halftime. Socker Coach Ron Newman tried to shake things up by pulling goalkeeper Zoltan Toth in favor of Jim Gorsek for the second half. Nothing worked.
“I thought we might be able to hold the score down early,” Newman said. “I know (Chicago Coach) Erich Geyer said he would open this game up, but we expected it to be tighter.
“In the first half, everything went right for Chicago. I don’t think we should have been down like we were. We had to take chances to get back in the second half, and Chicago beat us with their counterattacks. They were much more powerful. This is the weakest team I’ve put out all year.”
Besides Branko Segota, who has a broken cheekbone, midfielders Brian Quinn and Hugo Perez, forwards Njego Pesa and Julie Veee and defender Brian Schmetzer were out with injuries.
“We were so much lower down the scale than Chicago,” said Newman. “Without Segota and some of the others, we’re desperate for somebody who can make a proper pass or run. We’re looking for a miracle play from one or two of these kids who aren’t capable of doing it.”
Newman was looking to shake things up by pulling Toth.
“I wasn’t blaming Zollie,” said Newman. “Sometimes, you put in a new keeper and he’s fresh, he hasn’t had a goal scored against him yet, he’s a little more determined. I figured what the hell, change keepers. That’s what we have two good ones for.”
Newman believes that the clear Plexiglass boards used in Rosemont Horizon stifled his players Friday, although the Sockers beat Chicago here by 4-3 on April 1.
“I didn’t think they had an effect on us the first time,” Newman said. “But today was different. We looked a little bit off. I guess it was more of a factor tonight than before.
“Chicago got the nice bounces and we didn’t. That happens sometimes. We had the breaks here last time and (April 4) at our place and beat them. That’s just the way this game goes.”
“We played with more discipline for 60 minutes,” Geyer said. “San Diego’s a good team. It’s a credit to beat them. Tonight, we played well and won.”