Versatility Pays Off When Injuries Occur
To put the Splash’s season in perspective, consider the team:
* Leads the Western Division with a 6-3 record, matching the best mark in the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
* Has won three of four road games.
* Has won five of its last six.
* Hasn’t had a full team together since the season’s third game.
When the Splash plays Friday against Houston at the Pond of Anaheim, it will have all its players available for the first time since June 25, when it defeated Sacramento, 7-3.
The players who have been missing, either in combination or alone, weren’t slouches, either. Forward Dale Ervine (bruised foot) scored 55 points last year (with Anaheim and Arizona) despite missing seven games. Midfielder Raffaele Ruotolo (strained back) scored 57, and defender Doug Neely (U.S. national soccer commitment) scored 48. All are the Splash’s team leaders.
“We’ve won without Dale, Raffe and Dougie, and the guys who have filled in have done a tremendous job,” forward Bernie Lilavois said. “[Tuesday] for first time, everyone was back, and the intensity of practice was the highest it’s ever been. It was even higher than in the playoffs last year.
“I didn’t give it much thought until later, but I think it’s because the guys who have been filling in for the big guns want to make a statement, want their jobs full time, and Raffe, Doug and Dale are showing what they’re made of, showing why they’re veterans.”
Even Coach Ian Fulton was more intense, said Lilavois, whose 14 points is second to Ervine (23) and Danny Barber (16).
Now’s a good time for the Splash to take its level of play up a notch. It could use two more victories at home before beginning what could be a devastating stretch in its schedule.
After playing Houston on Friday and San Diego Tuesday at the Pond, the Splash will play six games on the road, and follow that with five games in seven days (the last three on the road).
“I’m not trying to take anything away from a 6-3 start, but knowing what’s ahead, we have to get ready to rock ‘n’ roll, because it’s not going to get any easier,” Lilavois said. “What we’ve done, we have to put behind us.”
Aah, but not without recognizing what they’re putting behind them:
* Kenny Hesse (defender), P.J. Polowski (forward) and Andy Strouse (forward) scored the first goals of their careers--and Strouse scored the game-winner in Friday’s 8-7 overtime victory at San Diego. He was playing because Ervine couldn’t.
* Third-year defender Paul McDonnell assumed the mantel of leadership in the back and, along with second-year player John O’Brien, helped hold the defense together during Neely’s absence.
* Lilavois played out of his primary position, moving from forward to midfield because of his versatility, to create more offense in the wake of Ruotolo’s and Ervine’s absences.
* Paul Agyeman scored second-half goals in the past four games, including fourth-quarter goals in the last three victories.
* A day after signing a contract, Mike Lynch entered the lineup, played smartly, provided solid defense in place of Ruotolo, and didn’t do anything to hurt the team.
* Midfielder Sam George, typically counted on more for his defense than offense, scored six goals in six games--and went scoreless only once.
In all, the team went 3-1 without Ruotolo, 2-0 without Neely, 1-0 without Ervine.
Friday’s victory, the third consecutive game the Splash scored eight goals, may have been as representative as any effort this season. The Splash overcame a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter without Ervine and Neely, and with Ruotolo playing a week ahead of his planned return.
“I never felt we panicked,” Ruotolo said. “This team is showing game-in and game-out that it can win, with me or without me, with Dale or without Dale, with Dougie or without Dougie.
“You have to give credit to everyone on the team--this was a great victory. We deserved it.”
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The CISL announced a national radio package that will feature a friday night game of the week, as well as full coverage of the CISL championship series. The games will be broadcast live on National Cable Radio, and via the Internet at the Audionet web site (www.audionet.com).
The Splash will be featured three times in the 12-game package, including Friday’s home game against Houston, Sept. 13 vs. Detroit and Sept. 20 vs. Sacramento. None of the Splash’s road games will be included.
Joe Tutino, the voice of the Splash the past two seasons, will do the play-by-play.
General Manager Don Ebert had the opportunity to put Splash games on the Web, but passed. He said he is still trying to put together a package to broadcast games on Radio Aahs during September’s stretch run.
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The Splash crowd of 4,025 on July 10--a Wednesday game--was the franchise’s smallest since drawing 3,837, also against Sacramento, Aug. 28, 1994. The smallest crowd since arriving in Anaheim was 3,196 against Pittsburgh Aug. 1, 1994.
The smallest crowd in franchise history was 1,022 Aug. 13, 1993, an 8-7 overtime loss to Sacramento at The Forum.
