Sockers Lose, 2-1, to Tacoma : Zungul Leads Stars Past His Old Team to Clinch First Title
“We’re No. 1,” yelled former Socker Steve Zungul, who raised his index finger in the air as he led his Tacoma teammates onto the field at the Sports Arena Saturday night.
And throughout the game, about 200 Stars fans, who had come down from Tacoma, screamed, “We’re No. 1.”
The Stars defeated the Sockers, 2-1, to clinch first place in the Western Division of the Major Indoor Soccer League.
It was the first division title in four years for Tacoma and the first time in their four years in the MISL that the Sockers did not finish first.
“Here we go,” yelled the Tacoma players as they raced to a victory celebration in the locker room. The champagne started flowing.
Zungul looked like a man who had accomplished another mission.
“I’m so happy to come back to my home and win the Western Division,” Zungul said. “It was a dream for these guys, and under my leadership, these guys responded.”
On Saturday, the Stars extended their MISL record for one-goal victories to 20. The Sockers are 14-15 in one-goal games.
After arriving from Chicago at noon Saturday, a tired Socker team--playing without four injured starters--gave the Stars a very tough game.
Playing in front of a spirited crowd of 9,339, the Sockers were outstanding. But with Branko Segota, Hugo Perez and Brian Quinn sidelined with injuries, San Diego continues to have a lot of trouble scoring. Defender Brian Schmetzer is also out.
San Diego averted being shut out for the first time in 310 indoor games when rookie Paul Dougherty scored with 3:06 to play. But despite playing with a sixth attacker and putting constant pressure on Star goalkeeper Mike Dowler, the Sockers could not tie it.
Star forward Gary Heale, who has hurt the Sockers all season, scored in the first and final quarters. Heale has 10 goals in six games against San Diego this season. Dowler, who missed a year because of knee surgery, made 12 saves on 18 shots and raised his record to 2-0.
What a difference Zungul--considered by some the greatest indoor player ever--has made to the Stars. The team failed to make the playoffs in their first two years.
Last season, after Zungul was sold from the Sockers to the Stars during midseason, he directed the Stars into the playoffs and past Wichita in the first round.
This season, the Stars acquired Godfrey Ingram, Gerry Gray and goalkeeper Joe Papaleo and they have had Zungul for a full season. The Stars got off to a 10-1 start and have the second best record in the league, behind Baltimore.
Saturday’s game was symbolic of how these two franchises are headed in opposite directions.
Tacoma has won six straight, while the Sockers have lost a team-record six straight.
San Diego not only failed to finish first this season, but the winner of five straight indoor titles slipped to fourth place Saturday night. The Sockers are a half game behind Wichita, a game behind Kansas City (which defeated Cleveland at home 7-4 Saturday) and seven back of Tacoma.
The Sockers have three regular season games remaining--in Kansas City Friday and at home against Wichita April 29 and Minnesota May 2.
If the Sockers finish the season in fourth, they will face Tacoma in a best-of-five opening-round series. Tacoma will have the home-field advantage. Last season, when the Sockers had the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they defeated the Stars in four games in the Western Division finals.
“This is the first step,” Zungul said. “We have to continue in the playoffs.”
Socker Notes Goalkeeper Jim Gorsek aggravated his bruised right foot when he collided with Star forward Gary Heale in the first quarter. Gorsek was replaced by Zoltan Toth after the first quarter. . . . Branko Segota, who suffered a fractured right cheekbone against St. Louis April 10 and was operated on the next day, attended Saturday’s game. “I don’t know how long it will take to come back,” said Segota, who was wearing a bandage on his right temple. “Right now, I’m just thinking of getting better. I have a lot of swelling.” After being examined by Socker team physician Edward Kreusser Friday, Segota was told that he would be fitted with a protective mask Thursday. “Getting the mask is just in case (I can play),” Segota said. Segota--who is on medication and said he feels tired--is expected to be able to start walking at a faster pace in a week and biking in 10 days. . . . Juli Veee returned Saturday after missing 13 games with a strained right knee. . . . Saturday’s game will be shown on ESPN today at 1 p.m.
