Sockers Top Storm, Tune Into MSL Final : Soccer: San Diego claims Western Division crown with a 7-4 victory. Sockers win the series in five games.

The following are scenes from the aftermath of Saturday night’s 7-4 Sockers’ victory over the Storm in Game 5 of the MSL Western Division finals. The Sockers now move on to the championship series against the winner of the Cleveland Crunch-Kansas City Comet series.

--The final buzzer sounds and midfielder Paul Dougherty dashes off to the locker room with 1) the game ball, and, 2) a grin so wide it appeared he had just purchased a Nolan Ryan rookie card for $12 (mental note--this guy is up to something).

--A minute later the rest of the team parades off the field as Waad Hirmez sings about another championship (mental note--this guy needs voice lessons).

--With all the players in the locker room, Coach Ron Newman enters. He’s too late. Branko Segota already is playing bartender and passing beer. No matter, “I don’t drink beer,” Newman says.

--Newman is conducting his impromptu postgame chat with reporters when senior referee Herb Silva approaches and asks for the game ball, with which Dougherty was seen running. Newman tries to look dumbfounded and tells Silva he’s mistaken; that Storm defender Fernando Clavijo kicked the ball into the stands (mental note--Newman is not a good liar).

--After the interruption, Newman gathers his thoughts. Now let’s see . . . where we we? Oh, yes:

“I can’t believe we’re in the finals again,” Newman bellows--and with some conviction. “We’re in the finals again!”

--Back in the locker room, the players break into a chorus of the MTV hit Rico Suave (mental note--all these guys need voice lessons).

And because they keep giving themselves something about which to sing, they might as well splurge.

The Sockers now have been involved in 25 playoff series. They have lost only one.

It’s no surprise, then, that this is the ninth time in the past 10 years the Sockers have advanced to a championship series either in the Major Soccer League or the North American Soccer League.

Although the roster has been in a continual state of flux the past few years, Newman has managed to maintain a blend of veterans with playoff experience and young players with playoff desire.

“When you look around this locker room and see all these veterans in here,” third-year player Paul Wright said, “you just know you can’t let them down. If you just follow their leadership, you can’t help but pick up your game another level.”

The Sockers got points from seven players, but for the first time in the series, two individuals came to the fore. Brian Quinn contributed three assists, and Paul Dougherty scored a hat trick.

Which is why he made off with the game ball. It was his first three-goal game in the playoffs.

Newman later convinced Dan Counce, Storm vice president, to allow Dougherty to keep the ball.

Dougherty later was told of the turn of events by a reporter.

“Oh good--I can take it out of the trash bin, now,” he said. “I knew the money is tight in this league--but I didn’t think it was that tight.”

Dougherty’s first goal tied the game, 2-2, with two minutes remaining in the first half. After a shot by Quinn was blocked in the goal box, Dougherty pounded the rebound between goalie Slobo Ilijevski and the far post.

Two-and-a-half minutes into the second half, Dougherty put the Sockers up, 3-2. After taking a pass from Jim Gabarra, Dougherty turned on the ball from 35 yards out and surprised Ilijevski with a shot that rolled inside the right post.

Dougherty’s final goal made it 6-3 midway through the final quarter. Dougherty followed Wright on a break-away, and when Wright could not shoot, he left the ball behind for Dougherty, who lashed it into the net.

It was vintage Dougherty. It was his fourth three-goal performance this year.

“Paul is a bit like Quinny when it comes to seeing what’s going to happen next,” Newman said. “Quinny sees it in the midfield and Paul sees it around the goal.”

Other Socker goals came from Wright, Jim Gabarra, Ben Collins and Wes Wade. Wright also had two assists.

Wade’s goal took the collective breath away from the Storm.

It came midway through the third quarter as St. Louis--on a power play--pushed up on offense. Wade and Quinn got the ball on a break-away, Quinn dribbled upfield, and Wade ran along to his right.

It appeared Preki stopped the break by poking the ball from Quinn. Only it made its way to Wade, who slipped the ball between the feet of the on-rushing Ilijevski.

The short-handed goal made it 4-3 and the Sockers went on to outscore St. Louis, 3-1, the rest of the way.