Splash Wins Consecutive Division Titles : Indoor soccer: This one comes after a 10-3 victory over the Dallas Sidekicks.

Thirty-four days ago, Splash players weren’t thinking about Domaine St. Michelle, but Sunday night, the team was spraying it all over the locker room.

The Splash, who wouldn’t have qualified for the eight-team playoffs after 20 games, capped an improbable Southern Division title run with a 10-3 victory Sunday over the Dallas Sidekicks at The Pond.

The victory came in front of an announced crowd of 14,149, a franchise record.

It was also the first time in seven games the Splash had beaten Dallas. The victory gave the Splash a 17-11 record--same as Mexico and San Diego. The Splash wins the division title by virtue of winning three of four games against each team.

It is the Splash’s second consecutive division title.

“No doubt this title means more than last year’s because of what we went through,” said Splash Coach George Fernandez, whose team went 20-8 a year ago, but sputtered at the end of the season and lost in the semifinals. “We were very inconsistent in the beginning, we had a lot of injuries, we had the Dale Ervine situation, we had new players coming in.”

Ervine was the team’s leading scorer when he was traded after having a falling out with Fernandez. Fernandez’s master plan came together after 20 games, when the team was 10-10 and trailed San Diego by four games with eight to play. The Splash won seven of its final eight, and closed the season with four straight victories for the first time this season.

“I’ve been on many championship teams but this one means so much because of what George went through,” said Raffaele Ruotolo, who had a goal and two assists.

The first round of the playoffs begin at The Pond Friday at 7:35 p.m. against San Diego. Game 2 is in San Diego, with Game 3 tentatively scheduled for Oct. 10. The Splash won three of four against San Diego, including two in the past month.

The Sidekicks made it easy on the Splash before the game began. Dallas left Tatu (96 points), Giampaulo Pedroso (46) and Kevin Smith (41) at home because it had already clinched a playoff spot. In all, the five field players represented 51% of Dallas’ total points, and 105 of the team’s 212 goals.

Also left behind was goalkeeper Kyle Krpata (9-2, 6.28 GAA).

But the Splash had a marginal first half and was fortunate to be tied, 3-3, at halftime.

But the third quarter may have been the team’s best 15 minutes of the season.

Sean Bowers scored from 40 feet. John O’Brien’s lazy bouncer was headed in by Dallas’ Patrick Shamu. Bernie Lilavois won a drop ball, rare in indoor soccer, and forced it through a defender’s legs. After getting blocked, Lilavois headed the ball past goalkeeper Hank Henry while getting kicked in the head.

That made it 6-3, and that was the goal that defined the night.

“The boys on the bench were saying that goal showed what this team is all about--determination and hard work,” said Lilavois, who was acquired in a trade with San Jose in midseason. “After that goal, we knew we were going to win.”

Bowers added his second goal and Lilavois’ second came eight seconds later to make it 8-3 entering the fourth quarter.

Doug Neely also scored twice for the Splash.

“The second half was outstanding,” said goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez, who had 12 saves--only five in the second half--and set a CISL record for goals-against average (5.23). “That was probably the best half of defense we’ve played all year.

“Championship game, record crowd--the timing was perfect.”

Splash Notes

Rod Castro was injured after falling early in the first quarter. He will have his left ankle X-rayed today.