Segota’s Comeback Overshadowed by Comets’

When Branko Segota stepped on to the field in the San Diego Sports Arena for the first time since April 4, he was greeted with a rousing ovation.

But the crowd at Tuesday’s night’s playoff game between the Sockers and Kansas City Comets was not cheering Segota. The response was directed at Wadd Hirmez, who had just scored to give San Diego a 1-0 lead less than two minutes into Game 3 of this Western Division semifinal series.

Segota, who suffered a fractured right cheekbone in an April 10 game at St. Louis, slipped quietly on the field to congratulate Hirmez and then assumed his position at midfield for his first shift in more than a month.

Soon, however, the crowd would be standing and cheering for Segota.

The first time Segota touched the ball, he was in an unfamiliar position, racing back on defense to break up a 2-on-1 Kansas City break.

Less than a minute later, Segota performed his specialty. He received a pass with his back to the Kansas City goal and wheeled quickly to his left, drawing a pushing foul on defender Jorge Espinoza.

The Sockers were awarded a direct kick from in front of the Kansas City goal, and Segota beat goalie Alan Mayer with a line-drive shot into the lower right corner of the goal.

Branko was back, even if the Sockers did go on to squander three-goal lead and lose to the Comets, 9-7. Segota finished with two goals (he had one other goal taken away on an official’s ruling) and two assists.

‘I felt good out there,” Segota said. ‘Ron (Coach Ron Newman) said that I got tired in the second half because I’d been out so long, but I didn’t feel that way. That’s not an excuse anyway.”

Segota had last played in San Diego April 4 against Chicago. In that game, he scored his 500th career point and also scored the game-winning goal with four seconds remaining.

However, six days later, the Sockers’ hopes of another Western Division championship were in effect ended when Segota was injured against St. Louis.

He was fitted for a mask to protect the injured cheekbone and began practicing with the team two weeks ago. A week ago, Segota stopped wearing the mask; he elected not to wear it Tuesday night.

There was some concern that Segota might play tentatively without the mask and Newman suggested to Segota that he wear it.

But Segota said he was uncomfortable with the mask. Without it, he performed like the player who led the Sockers in scoring this season with 34 goals and 75 points.

He scored twice in the first half and the Sockers appeared on their way to a victory.

‘Yeah, it was a great comeback for me for a while,” Segota said. ‘Then it turned out not-so-great.”