SPLASH NOTEBOOK / MARTIN HENDERSON : Ervine Racks Up Time in the Box
Dale Ervine is off to a hot-under-the-collar start.
Yes, he scored three goals and collected the 200th assist of his indoor soccer career against San Diego in Saturday’s 8-5 victory, and scored a goal in a 7-6 overtime victory over Portland on Sunday. But Ervine has been busy in other ways.
Like making his way to the penalty box.
Ervine had 16 penalty minutes last year and already has a league-high six in two games. Two of those minutes are for misconduct and two are for unsportsmanlike conduct.
He didn’t pick up his sixth minute last year until Game 12.
“I can’t recall getting six minutes in [the first] two games,” said Ervine, a veteran of nine indoor seasons. “But it’s the start of the season and everyone’s a little more on edge, the adrenaline is going a little more than when you get into the season. Hopefully it will be a trend that’s not consistent; I’d much rather be on the field rather than in the box.”
Ervine supplied the most highly charged moment in the Splash’s victory over the Sockers after he tied the game at 3-3 with his second goal. He had just served four minutes in the penalty box--two for boarding and two for misconduct after exchanging words with Brian Negrete.
Within moments of going back onto the field, he scored unassisted, jumped on the dasher boards and punched his fist in the air at the 7,622 in attendance. That drew the wrath of fans, who booed him the rest of the game.
“Just got caught up in the emotion,” Ervine said.
After the Portland game, in which he was assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and got into an emotional argument with goalkeeper Jim Brazeau, Ervine quipped, “I might as well just give my first check to the league.”
League spokeswoman Liz Miller said it won’t be that extreme, though there is a fine structure for yellow or blue cards given for misconduct--a visible or verbal dissent with an official--and fines can be administered for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“Referees are going to be much more blatant about saying, ‘Listen, you need to stop now,’ ” Miller said. “When the referee holds up his hand, that player needs to know he needs to stop. There is a definite sign that means you’ve had your say.”
Ervine said that Wednesday was the first he heard about the hand warning.
“I didn’t see anything like that in either game,” he said. “What’s frustrating is when the initial stuff isn’t noticed by officials but how we react to that is noticed. Obviously, I’ve got to find a way to handle it better. I’m not going to benefit the team from the penalty box.
“I just hope this doesn’t turn into a consistent pattern.”
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Splash co-governor Brad Mayne said about 600 fans left at halftime against Portland, with the Splash trailing, 2-1, and not playing especially well.
“I’m sure they thought we were going to lose and that’s why they left,” Mayne said. “One thing we really want to emphasize is don’t leave early. “
Indoor games average 14 goals, and despite the lukewarm three-goal effort by both teams in the first half, 13 goals were finally scored in the 7-6 overtime victory.
The Splash continued to show its knack for coming back. In both weekend victories, it trailed in the fourth quarter.
Anyone who watched the Splash last year should know better than to leave at halftime. The Splash was 4-0 at The Pond of Anaheim when trailing going into the fourth quarter, and it totaled five fourth-quarter comebacks, including a 10-9 victory against Arizona in which it trailed, 9-6, with three minutes left; Doug Neely scored the game-winner with 0:00.1 left on the clock.
In all, the Splash went 7-2 in games decided in the final minute, including one shootout and four overtime victories--among them two victories over Sacramento; one clinched the Western Division title, the other clinched the division semifinals.
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The Splash’s announced crowd of 8,842 at The Pond was the league’s second-highest total of the opening weekend. Only Dallas, with 9,526, drew more. Houston drew 8,790, and Detroit 8,187.
Last year’s 14-game average at The Pond was 4,688. With three additional playoff games, the average increased to 6,732.
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San Diego’s crowd of 7,622 against the Splash was larger than that at the Padres’ second home game, and it was an encouraging figure because it came on a night the Padres had one of their most popular promotions--Beach Towel Night--which drew 36,137.
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He went all of last year being called Jaime because his teammates thought that was his first name.
Wrong.
After a year of being misidentified in team and league releases, as well as public address announcers across the country, the Splash has finally gotten to the bottom of Francisco Jaime’s name. A native of Mexico, and the least-English speaking of the Splash players, his first name is Francisco, his last name Jaime. Obviously, he’ll answer to either.
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Up next: The Splash plays host to San Diego on Friday, 7:35 p.m., but play Saturday in Houston (5:35 p.m.). The Splash returns to The Pond July 8 against expansion Seattle and last year’s Splash team captain, Ralph Black, the 1994 defender of the year. Games are broadcast live on KORG 1190-AM.
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Around the league: Las Vegas’ Branko Segota was named the CISL player of the week after scoring four goals and getting one assist in the Dustdevils’ 8-7 overtime loss to Sacramento. He now has 501 career indoor goals--the fifth player to reach that milestone. . . . Splash’s Raffaele Ruotolo can extend his indoor record for consecutive games with an assist to 30 in home game against San Diego. . . . San Diego needs three more goals to reach 4,000 in club history, the most in indoor soccer history.
