In Overtime, Sockers Lose 3rd in Row

The Sockers looked a bit more like the Sockers in some ways Saturday night when a couple of familiar names returned to the lineup. But the team that has been masquerading as one of the Major Indoor Soccer League’s also-rans for the past week is still on hand.

Even with Brain Quinn (who had missed 18 games with a strained right arch) and Branko Segota (2 games with a lacerated elbow) back in the lineup, the Western Division champions blew a two-goal lead in the fourth quarter and lost their third game in a row, 5-4, in overtime to the Minnesota Strikers in front of 10,353 fans in the Sports Arena.

Steve Kinsey had a hat trick for Minnesota, including the winning goal two minutes into overtime as the Eastern Division-leading Strikers (28-22) beat San Diego for the first time in four tries this season.

Afterward, Socker Coach Ron Newman was scratching his head, trying to figure out where things have gone wrong.

“It’s hard to say right now, but this is a game we would have never lost earlier in the season,” Newman said. “We just seem to have a lack of effort right now. The guys don’t have anything to play for, and they’re missing a spark.”

The Sockers (37-13) clinched the league’s best overall record Saturday by defeating the Los Angeles Lazers, but they haven’t won since.

With Quinn and Segota back, the Sockers were hoping to turn things around. Segota had a goal and an assist and Quinn added an assist, but it wasn’t enough.

Even more discouraging for the Sockers was that they seemed in the second half to have snapped out of a lethargy that began during an 8-2 loss to Los Angeles Sunday, continued in a 6-4 loss at Tacoma Wednesday and reared its head during an uneventful first half Saturday.

Things got so bad that the Sockers failed to get off a shot of any kind in the second quarter and trailed, 1-0, at halftime.

But in the third period, things perked up. Waad Hirmez scored two minutes in to tie the game, and then Quinn’s hustle and Segota’s scoring touch helped earn the Sockers a two-goal lead.

First, Quinn raced into the box and knocked a loose ball away from Minnesota goalie Tim Harris. It rolled to Zoran Karic, whose shot at an empty goal deflected off Minnesota defender Gary Etherington and in for a 2-1 lead.

With four minutes left, Segota took a shot from 40 yards out that was headed to the far post. Etherington, running back to help on defense, helped on this goal, too, as the ball deflected off his legs and past a sprawling Harris. The goal was Segota’s 54th of the season, most in the league.

Minnesota rallied to tie, 3-3, but George Fernandez put the Sockers ahead 4-3 with a goal with 5:19 remaining.

Then with three minutes left, Kinsey scored from the top of the penalty box to send the game into overtime.

Socker Notes

Ron Newman said goalkeeper Zoltan Toth, who missed two practices this week after being kicked out of Wednesday’s game at Tacoma, will start the Sockers’ next game Wednesday night in Kansas City. “I’ve given him (Toth) two days off (Friday and Saturday). I want to let him settle down and let him know his teammates have forgiven him.” Before Wednesday’s game, Newman had said Toth wasn’t too hot about taking his turn in goal while the Sockers were so short-handed with injuries. Toth leads the league in goals-against average (2.80) and is attempting to set an all-time league standard in that category.