Sockers Make Splash Pay for Past Mistakes : Soccer: Anaheim’s luck runs out in 7-3 loss to San Diego.
The law of averages had been hanging over their heads like a safe, waiting to fall on the unsuspecting passerby below.
Classic vaudevillian comedy.
Not so funny when it happens to you.
After winning two CISL games despite not playing well this season, the safe fell on the Splash at The Pond. The San Diego Sockers cut the rope, 7-3, Friday in front of an announced crowd of 7,512. That’s not even the bad news.
* The Splash lost Doug Neely for its next home game, July 8, for violent conduct. He threw Diego Terry into the boards with 42 seconds left.
* The Splash, less than 19 hours after playing its worst game in two years, according to coach George Fernandez, must play in Houston ; today’s departure from John Wayne Airport--7 a.m. Departure from The Pond--5 a.m.
“This [was] a critical game because this game will dictate the outcome of [the Houston game].”
Neely put a different spin on it.
“It’ll take care of itself,” he said. “It gives us a chance to redeem ourselves instead of sitting around for a week.”
Neely was ejected along with Socker goalkeeper Antonio Cortes.
Neely’s ejection culminated a night of frustration. The Splash couldn’t put away its shots or a Southern Division rival that was without Rene Ortiz, a second-team All-CISL defender last year.
Neely’s manhandling of Terry was the Splash’s most inspired moment as players converged on the boards for a few moments of bedlam.
The Splash had been penalized only 16 minutes in its first two games and was whistled for 19--one short of the CISL record. The teams combined for 34--four minutes short of last year’s Carolina-Arizona game.
“We got our [butts] kicked,” Fernandez said. “We played a hell of a first quarter but just couldn’t finish our shots and missed four or five, but that’s the way the game is. Then things got worse. When things got worse, we lost our composure, started bitching and moaning--they played like individuals, not as a team.
“It was embarrassing to play that way in front of our fans. I don’t condone that kind of action, losing our composure and going nuts--going after people.”
*
Splash Notes
Raffaele Ruotolo (four minutes) had his indoor soccer record for consecutive games with an assist stopped at 29.
Sam George gave the Splash a 1-0 lead with his fourth goal--matching last year’s six-game total before he fractured his foot--but the Sockers (1-1) scored three consecutive goals. The third, by Ray Taila, was the Sockers’ 4,000th--the most in indoor soccer history.
Dale Ervine’s goal cut the lead to 3-2, and Francisco Jaime’s goal made it 5-3 at 4:32 in the fourth quarter.
