Rookie Tabrizi Does His Job Quietly, Efficiently

Hormoz Tabrizi was easy to overlook Friday night.

Hugo Perez and George Fernandez scored two goals each and Zoltan Toth turned in a sparkling performance in goal as the Sockers beat Cleveland, 6-1, to take a 2-0 advantage in the Major Indoor Soccer League championship series.

But, behind the headliners was Tabrizi, a San Diego rookie who came through in the pinch with a hustling defensive effort.

“It was a tough spot,” fellow defender Kevin Crow said. “You have to give him a lot of credit. He had a lot of pressure on him.”

Tabrizi, a 22-year-old from Iran, stepped into the lineup in place of veteran Brian Schmetzer, who played in the first game Wednesday but was held out Friday with an injured left toe.

It was only the 18th appearance of the season for Tabrizi, but he never faltered. His aggressive defense helped San Diego force the action and led to a quick pace that wore down the Force.

“Being the only rookie, there was a lot of pressure,” Tabrizi said. “But I play with a lot of good players, and they give me a lot of help.

“I’ve been playing good. I think the coach noticed and gave me a chance. I didn’t do a bad job.”

Coach Ron Newman has noticed and was pleased with Tabrizi’s effort.

“He’s really doing a great job,” Newman said. “He’s strong and can be quite composed. Obviously, he’ll face situations that he hasn’t seen, but he’s powerful and a strong runner and is totally committed to playing the way we want him to.”

Tabrizi came to the United States five years ago. He has played for the under-19 Iranian national team and was an All-American at Hawthorne College in Antrin, N.H.

He moved to California last year and tried out for the Sockers in the fall. At the start of the season, he played for San Diego’s Auto Trade reserve team but moved to the Sockers in November.

It has been a slow step at a time since then, as Tabrizi got into just 12 regular-season games.

But he has played in six more in the playoffs and says any nervousness he might have felt has passed.

“Playing against Kansas City (in the Western Division finals), I was nervous,” Tabrizi said. “But not tonight. I guess I’m used to it by now.”

Newman said Schmetzer’s four years of experience are tough to replace, but as long as he’s hurt, Tabrizi will continue to fill in.

“Every game he plays,” Newman said, “he gains more confidence and plays better.”

And before much longer, he might not be as easy to overlook.