Veee Honored as Sockers Extend Streak With Win

As Juli Veee stood in the tunnel at the Sports Arena Sunday talking about the great tradition of the Sockers, his former teammates were taking another small step toward a brighter future.

Veee’s No. 22 was retired at halftime. The Lazers (19-24) were retired, 7-3, two quarters later by a Socker team that is now only two games behind first-place Baltimore.

What does Veee think? Do the Sockers have enough steam without the benefit of his all-time, team-leading scoring statistics to win a seventh championship?

“I have no doubt,” said Veee, who retired at the end of last season after a decade with the Sockers. “There’s no problem with the team.”

Certainly no problems lately. The Sockers (24-19) have three consecutive victories, all without points leader and playmaker Branko Segota, who has been sidelined with a strained hamstring.

The Veee era was ushered out with five standing ovations by the crowd of 11,286 in a halftime ceremony, a few wet eyes and a little joke for the retired forward, who kept his teammates laughing with his quick wit throughout his career.

Gus Mokalis played the prankster Sunday, picking up Veee on his shoulders with help from several teammates and carrying him around the arena.

“I hate to be lifted up like that,” Veee said. “They did it anyway.”

And forward Steve Zungul shed a tear or two. Zungul played 10 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League with Veee. He said Veee’s retirement made him realize his own career is winding down.

“It’s here in the chest,” said Zungul, holding his hand on his heart. “I was very touched. In one way (the tribute) was nice and one way it’s sad that he has to leave. I guess that’s life.”

Sockers Coach Ron Newman said he was concerned his team might let down after the emotional ceremony. San Diego led, 3-1, at halftime with goals by Waad Hirmez, Brian Quinn and Zoran Karic.

But instead of faltering late in the game, as they did a week and a half ago in a 5-4 loss to Wichita, the Sockers kept their offensive punch in the fourth quarter, won easily and kept the Lazers in last place in the MISL, seven games out of first.

After the teams traded two goals apiece in the second half, Hirmez and Karic scored their second goals of the game in the final 1:10. That sealed the Sockers’ sweep of a back-to-back series for only the second time in 12 tries this season.

“I was very concerned that our record doesn’t look good on back-to-back games,” Newman said. “It is especially good to see we can come out in the second half and stay with them.”

Forward Paul Wright had given the Sockers a comfortable 4-1 lead midway through the third quarter with a rocket shot from outside the penalty box that found the right corner of the Lazer goal. The game got close after Doug Neely and Jim Gabarra sandwiched goals around another score by Wright. Minutes later Hirmez and Karic ended the suspense.

The Sockers take their streak on the road Friday, beginning an eight-day, four-game trip through Tacoma, Wichita, Baltimore and Kansas City. Newman regards the games as important preparation for the playoffs. And maybe, the Sockers are thinking about a stab at first place.

“We can get our heads down now and have a go at it,” Newman said. “I think we’ve got to win games on the road if we’re going to win a championship.”

If, said Hirmez, the team can play this well without Segota, they’ll be tough to beat upon his return.

“I’m not being conceited or anything,” Hirmez said. “I just don’t see anybody in this league that can beat us the way we’re playing right now.”

And unlike a couple a weeks ago, the bounces are starting to go in the Sockers’ direction. Quinn’s second-quarter goal went right through the hands and legs of Lazer goalie Jim Gorsek. Gorsek was eventually replaced by Daryl Doran when Los Angeles went to a sixth attacker with 9:28 remaining.

Quinn made his second consecutive start for the first time in more than two months, giving the Sockers a noticeable lift in spirit and a stronger attack.

“I think his coming back really makes a big difference,” Hirmez said. “He inspires everybody.”