Sockers Lose, 2-1, Discuss Trading Veee

After the Sockers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Baltimore Blast Saturday, most of the locker room talk focused on rumors of a trade that would send Juli Veee to Baltimore for Drago.

Socker President Ron Cady and Coach Ron Newman met with Blast Coach Ken Cooper to discuss a possible trade involving Veee, who was suspended for 30 days on Nov. 26 for slapping assistant coach Johan Aarnio.

“We just sat and talked. Kevin Crow’s name came up, but the Blast didn’t seem too interested in him,” Newman said. “Juli they showed some interest in and wanted to know more about it.”

Newman was reluctant to talk about what the Sockers wanted in return, but Cooper said San Diego was interested in Drago, the league’s 13th leading scorer last season, who has been unhappy with his lack of playing time lately.

“They asked us about Juli Veee, and the player they wanted was Drago,” said Cooper, who said Newman requested the meeting. “We feel Juli Veee, in this market and with this team, can help us.”

Cooper said that Veee, 37, who is in the last year of a no-cut, no-trade contract worth $90,000 a year, would have to have his salary restructured to fit within Baltimore’s salary cap.

“Juli Veee is not a youngster anymore, and he’s not in a position to demand what he wants,” Cooper said. “As far as restructuring the contract, that has to be done by the Blast. And if he doesn’t want to come, that’s fine, too.”

Drago, who did not suit up Saturday and has played in only two games this season, injured a foot in preseason and an eye Nov. 16. He says he is healthy, but Cooper has said Drago does not fit in with the team’s plans at the moment.

“San Diego, very good,” Drago said after the game. “You can say that I like that. When someone wants you, you are glad to leave. I have never played for someone who doesn’t want me.”

Saturday’s loss ended a three-game winning streak for the Sockers and extended their winless streak in Baltimore--where they have never won a regular-season game--to eight. The Blast is the only MISL team that holds a series advantage over the Sockers (10-5).

The Blast scored 2 minutes 56 seconds into the game when forward Tim Wittman kicked in a Stan Stamenkovic miss. Wittman’s goal came with just nine seconds left in a Blast power play.

San Diego tied the score at the 5:20 mark when Hugo Perez found Raffaele Ruotolo slicing through the middle. Ruotolo’s kick past Blast goalie Scott Manning was his first goal of the season.

Baltimore’s Helmut Dudek gave his team a 2-1 lead when he beat Jim Gorsek from just inside the red line.

“It was a very tight game, but we just couldn’t get the breaks,” Newman said. “All I wanted to do was stay in the game tonight, and I’m happy we did that.”

Newman said his team was tired after its 7-3 victory Friday night in Cleveland.

“The second half we were a little more fatigued,” Newman said. “But overall, I was pleased with the energy we exerted today, being so tired. We got a good win in Cleveland, which makes this loss a little easier.”

The Sockers will be idle until Friday night, when they play host to Cleveland.