Sockers Show Signs of Life in 9-3 Victory

Maybe the management of the Sockers should consider making trades more frequently.

A week ago, the Sockers shipped temperamental forward Zoran Karic off to chilly Cleveland in exchange for Paul Wright, a speedy 20-year-old forward who slipped through the Sockers’ fingers during last summer’s free agent draft. The question begging an answer was whether it was worth swapping a guy who led the team in scoring during the regular season last year for a second-year player who played infrequently as a rookie.

Tuesday night before a San Diego Sports Arena crowd of just 5,538--the fewest at home since 5,525 watched a game with Dallas on Feb. 3, 1987--the Sockers defeated the St. Louis Storm, 9-3.

Draw your own conclusion.

One game is only a small indicator that this was a smart trade. But, if nothing else, it was proof that there is life left in a team that seemed ready for the Major Indoor Soccer League obituary page less than three weeks ago.

Keep in mind that the Storm (19-21) had defeated the Sockers (17-21) in four of six meetings before Tuesday night. Also keep in mind that we’re talking about a Socker team that had previously won by more than four goals only once this season, and only once had scored nine goals.

So there were a lot of happy Socker faces by the time rookie forward Rod Castro scored 58 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Sockers the final goal of their offensive party. They were talking with renewed zest in the locker room minutes after the final ball was played.

“We’ve got the team that should be playing right now,” defender George Fernandez said. “Everybody feels good about themselves.”

The coach feels good, too.

“That should make a few people sit up and take notice around the league,” Coach Ron Newman said. “It was great. There was no slackness tonight.”

How did the Sockers pile up so many goals? Let us count the ways.

Midfielder Waad Hirmez started things in the first quarter, followed by midfielder Branko Segota and forward Jim Gabarra. The first quarter ended with the Sockers ahead, 3-0.

Second quarter. Gabarra scores again, his seventh of the season. Midfielder Thompson Usiyan scores for St. Louis to make it 4-1.

Third quarter. Hirmez starts things off again with a goal off a restart kick from Wright. Segota scores the next two goals for a hat trick and a 7-1 Socker lead. Segota now has 700 points in his MISL career.

“I was due,” Segota said. “I’ve been hitting the post and crossbar all year. I’ve also had minor injuries that have slowed me down a little. I feel good now. I had 10 days off to take care of the knicks and knacks.”

A few minutes after Segota polished off his hat trick, Gabarra made it 8-1 a to pick up one of his own, the second of his MISL career. Then, after Castro scored, St. Louis got late goals from midfielders Daryl Doran and Claudio De Oliveira.

Though he only collected one assist, Wright’s presence was felt. The Sockers suddenly have quick, fresh feet at the midfield position, which allows Segota to play forward and take his hacks at the goal. From now on, opponents of the Sockers will keep a nervous eye on Wright as they double-team Segota.

“I think they have to worry about his speed,” Segota said. “By playing up front, I’m more effective. When you go back and forth and then you still have to battle the double-coverage, it’s tough.”

Socker Notes

Despite a season filled with ups and downs, the Sockers are still talking with the confidence of champions. Asked about the playoffs, defender Kevin Crow said, “I don’t see anybody that’s going to beat us in a series. A lot of guys on our team, right, wrong or indifferent, are in the habit of looking at their calendar on October 1st and saying ‘Man, the season goes all the way to April.’ It’s hard for some of our guys to play at a high level the whole season. But they can suck it up for short periods of time, and that’s what happens in the playoffs.” Midfielder Brian Quinn missed his fifth consecutive game with tendinitis of the groin, which he said will probably keep him out of weekend games with Kansas City and Baltimore. Also not in uniform Tuesday was veteran forward Steve Zungul and forward Damir Haramina, out with strained a quadriceps.