Sockers Win Another in Overtime
For the fourth time in what is now an eight-game winning streak, the Sockers on Friday were forced to go to a sixth-attacker in order to tie the game and send it into overtime.
What ensued was a similar story line to the first three overtime games: Sockers counterattack. Sockers score. Sockers win. This time it was 6-5 over the Cleveland Crunch, who were making their first appearance at the Sports Arena since losing Game 6 of last season’s Championship Series.
The Sockers (16-6) increased their lead over second place Dallas to 3 1/2 games. Dallas lost to St. Louis on Friday.
Paul Dougherty, who had a hat trick, finished as the hero. He scored the game-winner three minutes into overtime after first-timing a cross-carpet pass from Thompson Usiyan from some 35 feet out.
“Tomo held (the ball) up really well,” Dougherty said. “And I just made a run off Tomo and he made a beautiful pass between two players.”
The pass was enough to make everyone forget about Brian Quinn. Usiyan himself had just accepted a pass from Tim Wittman. Standing in the midfield in front of the red line, he spotted Dougherty streaking into the attacking zone and immediately slipped the ball between two enclosing defenders.
“He threaded it,” said teammate Kevin Crow.
And so Dougherty and Usiyan stole the attention from goalie Victor Nogueira, who had to make two point-blank saves in the overtime period before the Sockers iced it.
“Victor Nogueira clearly saved our ass today,” said Coach Ron Newman. “Cleveland should have won tonight. The ball lands at Zoran Karic’s feet and usually he never misses.”
He did this time. Eight seconds before Dougherty scored, Karic hit the right post with a shot from the left side. In all, Cleveland fired five shots in overtime, the Sockers one.
Nogueira finished with 14 saves.
But the game wouldn’t have even advanced to overtime if not for another sixth-attacker goal. This time it came from Ben Collins, who waited at the far-right post as Terry Woodberry unloaded a shot from the left corner.
The shot missed its target and went right to Collins, who easily looped it above goalie P.J. Johns.
“It was a matter of having the best players in the right position,” Newman said. “Benny’s at the right post with his good right foot, and Terry is up in the left corner with that great left foot.”
Collins’ goal tied the game at 5, and it came only 19 seconds after Michael King gave Cleveland its first lead of the game. King’s shot came from the top of the penalty area off a pass from Dave Hoggan in the corner. For it to get to King, however, George Fernandez let the pass roll between his legs. That was all King needed to catch the Sockers defenders flat-footed.
With the goal, Cleveland battled back from a 4-0 deficit.
The Sockers started off by scoring their quickest goal of the season, 33 seconds into the game, then scored three more before Cleveland got going.
On the first goal, Usiyan was the benefactor when a pass intended for Jacques Ladouceur from Tim Wittman glanced off of Ladouceur’s foot and right into the path of Usiyan charging in from the midfield.
Usiyan tucked the ball away in the upper-left corner of the net.
Only two minutes later, the Sockers extended their lead on a goal from Paul Wright. Wright, who seems to exude more confidence every game, took a pass from Usiyan along the left boards, darted into the center of the field, turned and rifled a shot past defender Chris Szanto that sneaked just inside the left post.
With only 27 seconds remaining in the opening quarter Dougherty, slicing into the penalty area, scored his first of the night, first-timing a perfect crossing pass from Alex Golovnia.
It was Dougherty again who made it 4-0 six minutes into the second quarter as he half-volleyed the rebound of a shot by Wright into the net.
So what if Hoggan made it 4-1 with just over three minutes to go in the half? No big deal.
But with 22 seconds left in the quarter, Hector Marinaro brought Cleveland within two, 4-2, and all of a sudden it’s a big deal.
“If they would have gone in 4-1, they would have been disappointed,” Newman said. “But instead, they go in 4-2 and if they come out and get that third goal, it’s a different game.”
How different, not even Newman could have known. The Sockers failed to get off a shot in the third quarter. It was only the fifth time in their 12-year history they have been held without a shot in a quarter.
Socker Notes
Figuring they don’t get the calls they think they should in the first place, the Sockers have decided to scrap their already testy relationship with game officials. The Sockers are promoting Sunday’s game (6:05 p.m.) against second-place Dallas as referee eye chart night. It’s being sponsored by a local optometrist. The chart spells out THE REFS ARE BLIND. The Sockers already have received one letter from a local soccer referee, but it’s not what anyone expected. The letter congratulated the Sockers on a great promotional idea and asked if the club would mail a chart to the writer. “I don’t think he understands,” a Sockers’ publicist said. “He’s going to be so disappointed.” . . . But that’s not the most unique promotion of the season. When the Sockers host the Tacoma Stars on Feb. 23, there will be two somewhat contradictory promotions: McDonald’s family night and OASIS health fair. Fans can arrive early for free McDonald’s food, then have their health tested by OASIS personnel. Really.