Sockers Go Overtime to Break Losing Streak, Set Record : Dougherty’s Goal in Second Extra Period Gives Team 5-4 Victory and Sets MISL Mark for Most Wins in Regular Season

TACOMA, Wash. —  Paul Dougherty’s goal 7:57 into the second overtime lifted the Sockers to a Major Indoor Soccer League-record 38th victory and snapped a four-game losing streak.

The 5-4 victory, in front of 11,374 at the Tacoma Dome, also temporarily denied the Stars a first-round playoff rematch against San Diego. Tacoma (25-27) must win one of its remaining games or Wichita must lose one of its for the Stars to meet the Sockers.

The Sockers, who also matched a MISL record with their 18th road victory, return home to the Sports Arena tonight to play the St. Louis Steamers at 7:35.

After a scoreless first overtime, Rene Ortiz stole the ball from Tacoma’s Ralph Black at the top of the arc. Dougherty took it from Ortiz and slid his 36th goal into the right corner.

San Diego (38-14), which left Branko Segota and Juli Veee at home and lost Brian Quinn to a hip injury, relied on its younger players.

“We had a lot of young kids out there, and it hurt us for a little while until they got their feet wet,” Sockers Coach Ron Newman said. “But then they came on and realized they’ve got nothing to lose. We were depending a lot on them. They were taking full shifts in front of a very hostile crowd. The tension was there like a playoff game.

“They’ve never played in that type of situation and nerves were having a big effect on them. I thought it was going to cost us earlier, but both Hormoz (Tabrizi) and Ortiz looked very bold, and one got a goal and one an assist. You could see their confidence improve as the game went along.”

In the first quarter, the Sockers not only killed off two penalties in the first 3 1/2 minutes but took a 2-0 lead on goals by Jacques LaDouceur and Waad Hirmez.

Zoran Karic set up the first score at 8:58, drawing Tacoma goalkeeper Mike Dowler to the right of the goal. Dowler smothered Karic’s shot, but the ball knuckled through his grasp to LaDouceur for a wide-open tap in the middle of the box. The assist gave Karic at least one point in each of the past eight games.

With 1:56 remaining in the quarter, Hirmez, falling down in the middle of the goal, managed to redirect Brian Schmetzer’s feed from the left corner for his 30th goal.

Tacoma’s Ricky Davis cut the margin to 2-1 at 3:58 into the second period, punching in a short left-footer from the right side after Sockers keeper Zoltan Toth had deflected a point-blank shot from Peter Ward.

After San Diego failed on its 12th consecutive power play, the Stars took advantage of one with 37 seconds remaining in the half. Preki moved in from the left side and juked around Karic to get 1-on-1 with Toth. Toth came out of goal expecting a shot, but Preki faked him to the ground, then fed Ward in front of the open net to tie the score, 2-2, at halftime.

Tacoma took its first lead, scoring its third consecutive goal 1:08 into the second half. Ralph Black passed to Preki near midfield, leaving him 1-on-2 with Fernando Clavijo and Kevin Crow. Clavijo ran off the field, and Preki stepped around Crow at the top of the arc for his 49th goal, a left-footed rocket.

Exactly a minute later, Tacoma scored again. Toth slapped Bernie James’ long shot to the ground, but Gary Heale was at the left post to punch the rebound to Steve Zungul on a run to the backside for the former Socker’s 45th goal of the season.

The Sockers failed on another power play for the first 1:14 of a third period before evening the sides with a sixth-foul penalty. San Diego’s power play unit is 2 for 24 in its past 15 games.

Tempers flared late in the third period. First, Black tackled Karic, but no foul was called, even though Black was pulled down after the play. The next time down, Karic again tried the right side against Bernie James and, when stopped, grabbed the burly Stars defender. James shook him off and slammed him into the glass. Both were red-carded and the quarter ended with the Stars holding a 4-2 edge.

San Diego, which had been shut out for two quarters, got going on Kevin Crow’s goal 4:10 into the final period. Raffaele Ruotolo, backed in and held the ball until finding Crow on a run down the right side for the defender’s seventh goal.

Rookie defender Tabrizi tied it at 5:41 with his first career goal, sneaking a soft shot from deep in the left corner inside the far post.

MOST MISL VICTORIES

Season Team Record 1987-88 Sockers 38-14 1984-85 Sockers 37-11 1985-86 Sockers 36-12 1986-87 Tacoma 35-17 1986-87 Cleveland 34-18