Segota Is Not Missed as Sockers Beat Dallas

Much to everybody’s surprise, Branko Segota wasn’t around when the introductions were made Tuesday night.

“I saw him today, and I didn’t know there was any problem,” Socker President Ron Cady said in the first quarter. “I’m totally surprised.”

The Sockers did OK without him, defeating the Dallas Sidekicks, 4-0, before 7,678 in the San Diego Sports Arena to take a 3-2 advantage in the best-of-seven Western Division finals.

Where was Segota? Well, he was wearing his uniform in the locker room before the game. Asked how he was doing, he said, “Not too good” and proceeded to speak of an injury to his left hip.

Segota, the Sockers’ all-time playoff goal-scoring leader, decided he couldn’t play after pre-game warm-ups. But lately, he has been troubled by more than just a sore hip. In four previous games in this series, he has one assist and no goals. His slump has prompted countless questions, and he has run out of answers.

“It’s difficult for me because I’ve never had this bad a run before,” he said. “It’s very frustrating.”

If Segota isn’t to lift the Sockers over the rough spots as he has so often in past playoffs, maybe the Sockers have decided to find a way to finish their work in his absence.

“I said, ‘Don’t force yourself to play,’ ” Socker Coach Ron Newman said. “That’s why we carry 20 men on the roster.”

Actually 19 and midfielder Brian Quinn. He counts for at least 1 1/2. Tuesday, Quinn went nuts, scoring a goal and assisting on the other three to lift his team to its second victory in a row.

“It felt good,” Quinn said. “That’s the best we’ve played. Branko would have scored four goals the way we played.”

The Sockers took control early, and sure-handed goalie Victor Nogueira held on to it. He finished with 15 saves, including one on a shot from Tatu from about eight feet away.

Forward Wes Wade started the scoring, taking a pass from Quinn 9:28 into the first quarter and connected to make it 1-0. Actually, he hit it on the second try while laying flat on his back after missing his first kick.

The Sockers went up, 2-0, in the second quarter when forward Paul Wright took a pass from Quinn, shot from just outside the goal mouth and then punched in the deflection off midfielder Mark Karpun.

Things were going so well for the Sockers by the fourth quarter that midfielder Waad Hirmez scored a 35-footer with his right foot. Hirmez is known for having a wicked south-hoof, but he doesn’t have a whole lot of right-footed goals.

“Not too many,” he said. “But the ball came back sweet from the boards.”

Having picked up his third assist on Hirmez’s goal, all that was left was for Quinn was to score one of his own, which he did from across the carpet a minute after Dallas pulled goalie Joe Papaleo in favor of a sixth attacker with 5:32 to play.

Quinn continues to be the Sockers’ most consistent performer. He is the MISL’s playoff leader in points and assists with five goals and 11 assists.

With their work finished in San Diego, the Sockers will fly to Dallas this afternoon for Thursday’s Game 6. If necessary, Game 7 will be Saturday in Dallas.

Even with the momentum they picked up from Tuesday’s shut out, the Sockers haven’t proclaimed this series over.

“It’s not as if we’re going to dominate them,” Quinn said. “Whoever plays well on a night wins the game.”

Still, you can tell Newman is feeling a bit more comfortable.

“Now the pressure is on them,” he said. “We don’t feel uncomfortable playing on the road. There are two games to be played.

“Maybe just one.”

Sockers Notes

Tim Wittman broke out of postseason slump with three goals as the Baltimore Blast routed the Kansas City Comets, 7-2, to win the best-of-seven MISL Eastern Division championship series four games to two. Billy Ronson added four assists as the Blast advanced to the MISL championship series for the second consecutive season and the fifth time in eight years. . . . Owner Ron Fowler said he will continue to be managing general partner of the Sockers next season but will consider bringing in partners. “I fully intend to be involved next year,” he said. “My intent is to bring in other partners. There are some friends that are possibilities that I’ve talked to briefly.” Fowler said he expects all eight teams to return based on conversations he has had with other owners. Expansion, he said, will be put on hold until the following season. “I think they feel it’s a little late for expansion,” Fowler said. “I’d rather stabilize with eight teams and have two to four come in next year who are prepared and ready to go.” . . . Though the Sockers have drawn their three lowest playoff crowds in history this year, Fowler said the average revenue from the first four games is up 5% from last season.