Sockers’ Nogueira Earns MSL Mark

The Sockers, who Friday night secured the best record in the MSL, had one little piece of business to take care of before heading to the playoffs--they had to finish their schedule Saturday night against the Dallas Sidekicks, who own the worst record in the league.

The game went into overtime before it was decided. And, yes, it was decided in the Sockers’ favor, 6-5.

And, yes, Sockers goalie Victor Nogueira was in the nets to record his 31st victory of the season.

That’s a Major Soccer League record. Alan Mayer previously held the record for most victories in a season by a goalkeeper. In 1982-83 while with the Sockers, he recorded 30.

Nogueira finished the season leading the league in nine goalkeeper categories, including: victories, goals-against average (4.37), saves (576), shutouts (two) and goalkeeper points (he had nine assists).

He gained his last victory without the services of the Sockers’ top defender, Kevin Crow, who did not go on the trip.

Since Crow did not play, rookie defender David Banks became the only Socker to play in all 52 games this year. He is the first Socker to play in every game of his rookie season.

Other highlights from Saturday’s game:

- Paul Dougherty scored the game-winning goal two minutes into overtime when he accepted a pass from Brian Quinn at the top of the arc and rifled a shot by Sidekicks’ goalie Krys Sobieski, a 10-year MSL veteran who played his final game before retiring.

Dougherty has now scored the game-winner in the Sockers’ last three victories. It was also his seventh game-winner this season, a team and career high.

It was also Dougherty’s 43rd goal of the season, which ties him with Waad Hirmez for most on the team.

- Brian Quinn had four assists to raise his season total to 55. That’s a career high and the second most in team history to Steve Zungul’s 68 in 1984-85, which still stand as a league record.

- Jim Gabarra and Paul Wright kicked in two goals apiece to bring their season totals to 19 and 38 respectively.

The Sockers (34-18) will now be idle until April 18 when they open the Western Division finals against the winner of the St. Louis-Tacoma semifinal series.

Dallas finished at 20-32.