Splash Beats Sacramento to Clinch Playoff Berth
Consistency is the key.
That was the refrain in the Splash locker room after beating Sacramento, 5-3, and clinching its third consecutive playoff berth in front of 7,256 Friday at the Pond.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Sept. 22, 1996 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday September 22, 1996 Orange County Edition Sports Part C Page 20 Sports Desk 1 inches; 30 words Type of Material: Correction
Splash score--The score of the Splash’s 5-4 victory over Sacramento was incorrectly reported in Saturday’s edition of The Times Orange County. Also, Sacramento scored with 3 minutes left and with four seconds left.
The Splash won back-to-back games for the first time in 10 games, and with only three games remaining, a little winning streak couldn’t come at a more critical time.
“By no means are we comfortable where we’re at, but we’re at least rolling in the right direction,” said Sam George, who scored a goal for the sixth time in seven games since returning from his honeymoon.
The victory moves the Splash (13-12) past Sacramento (13-13) into second place in the Continental Indoor Soccer League’s Western Division, two games behind San Diego (15-10) with three to play; the Knights are 2 1/2 back. Both teams play the Sockers once more.
“I’m not even worried about winning the division, I just want to build going into the playoffs,” said Splash captain Doug Neely, who has been on the Splash’s two division winners but failed to reach the finals. “[Consistency] is what we’re trying to develop. It hasn’t even been a game to game, but we’re trying to develop it shift to shift, quarter to quarter.
“The win was the bonus.”
The Splash played as well as it has for 57 minutes against Sacramento, which took a 2-0 first-quarter lead. But the Splash responded with five consecutive goals. Suddenly, the team has some momentum after 1 1/2 months of stumbling. The victory is the Splash’s fourth in 11 games.
George, Mike Lynch and Bernie Lilavois scored second-quarter goals for a 3-2 halftime lead. It was extended to 5-2 with goals by Dale Ervine and Neely in the first and last minute of the third quarter.
Lynch, who has scored the first four goals of his indoor career in his last four appearances--saved a goal when he headed away a sure goal when goalkeeper Ruben Fernandez (19 saves) was caught outside the arc midway in the third quarter.
It wasn’t until Sacramento went to a sixth attacker with 4:17 left that the Knights again scored, with 3 minutes 4 seconds left--the latter on a six-on-four man advantage.
The Splash clinched a postseason berth before its game ended because Portland lost to Houston, 9-6, setting the field for the eight-team playoffs.
