Sockers to Open First Round on the Road . . . but Where?

After their 3-2 loss to Wichita Wednesday night, the Sockers cannot have the home-field advantage in the opening round of the Major Indoor Soccer League playoffs next week.

If the Sockers defeat Minnesota at home Saturday night in the season finale, they will be 27-25 and still could finish in a three-way tie for second with Wichita and Kansas City. Wichita (27-23) hosts Tacoma tonight and plays at Kansas City Saturday. If the Wings win both, they will be 29-23 and finish alone in second. If they lose both, they will be 27-25.

If Kansas City (26-24) beats Wichita and then Chicago on Sunday, it will be 28-24 and finish alone in second. If the Comets lose to Chicago, they will be 27-25.

The tiebreaker for a three-way deadlock is number of victories against the other two teams. Kansas City would have four wins over Wichita and three over the Sockers for a total of seven and would win the tiebreaker. San Diego beat Wichita and Kansas City three times apiece. Wichita would have two wins against Kansas City and three against San Diego.

As for third or fourth place, that is still up in the air.

If the Sockers win Saturday, these are the possibilities:

--San Diego will open the playoffs in Wichita Tuesday if the Wings win both their games this weekend or if Wichita and Kansas City split their games.

--San Diego will open the playoffs in Kansas City Thursday if Wichita loses both its games and Kansas City splits.

--San Diego will open the playoffs in Tacoma if Wichita splits and Kansas City wins both its games. If the Sockers lose Saturday and Kansas City loses both its games this weekend, San Diego will open the playoffs in Wichita Tuesday. If the Sockers lose and Kansas City splits, San Diego will open in Tacoma Wednesday.