In the Grand Design of Wings, Sockers Lose

If the Sockers hadn’t run into a red-hot goalkeeper making his first start, they might have won in a runaway Saturday night.

Instead, after fighting from a two-goal deficit to pull even in the final period, the Sockers lost, 7-5, to a couple of designed plays by the Wichita Wings.

The Sockers dominated much of the first half but gave up three second-period goals to fall behind 3-1.

Paul Dougherty signed with the Sockers only a week ago, too late to get his name on his uniform. But he scored two goals and passed off to Wes Wade for the 5-5 equalizer early in the final period.

Then Wings midfielder David Byrne, on a corner kick restart, passed to rookie Danny Pena for a game-winning header from point-blank range.

Despite playing without all-stars Branko Segota and Brian Quinn, the Sockers showed signs of blowing the Wings away in the first period. But goalkeeper Kris Peat came up with five big saves.

“If it hadn’t been for Kris Peat, it would have been a big mountain to climb,” said Wings all-star forward Dale Ervine, who added his eighth and ninth goals to his Major Soccer League scoring lead of 13 points.

“I thought we were great,” Sockers Coach Ron Newman said. “There was only one team in it in the first period. I thought we should have been at least two goals up. I thought it was a game we could have easily won tonight. That was probably the easiest game of the four this year.”

Instead, the Sockers are 1-3 and tied for last place in the Western Division with the St. Louis Storm. The Wings are 3-1 and in second place in the East behind 1-0 Cleveland.

“It was our power play that didn’t score and their corner kicks that did score,” Newman said. “One of the problems is that we can’t get into our arena.”

The other damaging Wichita goal came with one second left in the third period after Dougherty got the Sockers within one goal, 4-3. While Byrne and Wes Wade were battling for an air ball, Dougherty ran into the fray and whacked the ball into the goal.

Ervine scored on a set play with one second left in the third period. He took a corner kick restart pass from Byrne and buried a 20-foot shot for a 5-3 lead.

All-star defender Chico Moreira put the Wings ahead 4-2, stealing the ball and teaming up with Omar Gomez. Moreira scored out of a pileup with the Sockers’ Jacques Ladouceur in front of the goal. The ball actually went into the goal off Ladoceur as he was knocked to the turf by Moreira.

Speedy Paul Wright got the Sockers on the scoreboard in the first period with a brilliant goal. In one motion, he turned and one-touched a 30-foot shot into the goal on the half volley. The goal was set up by an 80-foot pass from Russian newcomer Alex Golovnia.

“There were some encouraging things happening for us today,” Newman said. “I think Ben Collins is doing a good job at the back, and Golovnia. And Glenn Carbonara. Suddenly I feel comfortable defensively. The goals didn’t have anything to do with our defense, not today.”

Peat aroused the crowd early by stopping Waad Hirmez on a shootout. Peat was called for tripping in the penalty area just three minutes into the game. The Wings also killed off the ensuing penalty.

“If Waad Hirmez had been on form, because his shooting has been nothing like he can usually shoot, that alone could have made a difference,” said Newman.

Wright was roughly handled by the Wings defense all night but he said he expects the rough stuff.

“This was probably the worst game so far, but I’ve got to expect that,” Wright said. “There’s no other way they can handle me.”

Dougherty wasn’t that happy for a player who had scored three goals in two games.

“We’re only one out of two in the games I’ve played in,” Dougherty said. “I was more satisfied last night in scoring a goal and winning the game than scoring two tonight and losing the game.”