Splash Rallies Past Sacramento : Soccer: They score five straight goals, including four in the fourth, for a 6-4 victory and sole possession of first place.

Splash goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez recounted some comments from his teammates two weeks ago in anticipation of Saturday’s game against Sacramento.

“A couple of the guys were hoping that Sacramento would be undefeated when they came here,” Fernandez said.

Sacramento was. The Knights were off to a 9-0 start, the best in Continental Indoor Soccer League history and third-best in indoor history.

With the league’s best goalkeeper, Mike Dowler, the Knights had the league’s best defense, and had won six consecutive road games.

But at the Pond in front of a franchise record 9,241, the Splash defeated the Knights, 6-4.

The Splash scored five consecutive goals--four in the fourth quarter--before Sacramento pulled Dowler for a sixth attacker to try to overcome a four-goal deficit.

The Splash (7-4) took sole possession of first place, a half-game ahead of San Diego, and plays tonight in Portland (5-5) before returning home Wednesday for a home game against Mexico.

Dale Ervine, the Splash’s leading scorer, did not play for the second game in row. He did suit up, though, but watched from the bench with starting defender Paul McDonnell. Coach George Fernandez said Ervine will play tonight against Portland (5-5).

Doug Neely led the Splash with three goals, and was part of a brilliant defensive effort by Shane Hickson, Denis Hamlett, Sean Bowers and Sam George.

But it was Ruben Fernandez who was lauded by his teammates. Fernandez had 16 saves--at least nine of the outstanding variety.

“It’s nice to have a good game; knowing that it’s against a quality team makes it that much better,” Neely said. “We had something to prove. We don’t believe we’re a 6-4 team--but in fact, we were. We can talk about it until we’re blue in the face, but until we prove it on the field . . . “

The Splash proved it against the Knights. Neely staked the Splash to a 1-0 lead, and Raffaele Ruotolo made it 2-2 before halftime.

After getting only one shot off in the third quarter, the Splash got four consecutive goals, from defender Sean Bowers--who played for Sacramento last year--Jose Vasquez and then two by Neely.

Splash Notes

The game will be televised on Prime Sports at 1 p.m. today.