Joke’s On Splash in Loss to San Diego

Raffaele Ruotolo, responding to Coach Ian Fulton’s comment that “the inmates can’t run the prison,” showed up at Tuesday’s practice wearing a prison costume with a ball and chain.

But there was no humor a few hours later, after the Splash lost to San Diego, 5-4, in front of an announced crowd of 5,983 at the Pond.

The team, which failed to take advantage of Dale Ervine’s hat trick, played poorly on defense and failed to put away its other scoring chances, resulting in a loss that ended a four-game winning streak.

This all came on the heels of the midfielders’ best performance in which they produced seven of 10 goals against Houston. The midfielders had one goal and one assist as the Splash (7-4) watched its first-place lead shrink to 1 1/2 games over Sacramento and Portland in the Continental Indoor Soccer League’s Western Division. San Diego (5-6) ended a three-game losing streak.

Ruotolo, the team’s all-time leader in goals and assists who played against Houston, didn’t play against San Diego, refusing to be a part of three-man shifts.

Fulton continued using a three-man rotation with Sam George (one goal), Bernie Lilavois (one assist) and, this time, Mike Lynch.

The next line in the sand between Ruotolo and management comes Saturday at San Diego.

If Ruotolo keeps his promise not to play under Fulton’s current conditions, Ruotolo will meet with General Manager Don Ebert, who left today for Colorado and will return Saturday.

“I know what I did for this team for four years. I know what I can do for this team, and it’s as simple as that,” said Ruotolo, last year’s leading scorer.

“All the players know what I can do. All the players know that I should be in there. But if that’s the way they want to do it, fine.”

At least 11 players agree Ruotolo’s complaints are legitimate--but it’s an issue between player and management.

Among them, Danny Barber, the leading vote-getter at midfield for the league’s all-star game.

“I think [Ruotolo] has a beef,” he said. “He’s one of the guys on the team who has been around for 10 years, and I don’t think his play has gone down. I don’t think we have to get more out of his position.”

Fulton said Ruotolo’s skills haven’t deteriorated, but he doesn’t get back on defense the way he once did, and Lilavois (a forward in the past) is more beneficial as an attacking midfielder.

The Splash squandered its 4-3 lead by surrendering two fourth-quarter goals, the second by John Olu Molomo at 10:47.

Goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez (12 saves) also was named to the all-star team.