Five Sockers are Selected to MSL All-Star Team
SAN DIEGO — For the seventh consecutive season, the Sockers have placed the maximum allowable number of representatives in the MSL All-Star game, to be played Feb. 13 in Kansas City.
It was announced Monday that five San Diego players, including midfielder Waad Hirmez and forward Paul Wright, will join Coach Ron Newman on the West team. Hirmez and Wright will be making their first All-Star appearances.
Hirmez and Wright were among Newman’s four selections. Three Sockers--defender Kevin Crow, midfielder Brian Quinn and goalie Victor Nogueira--were voted on by players from other West teams (Tacoma, St. Louis and Dallas).
Rounding out the West team:
Dallas--Forward Tatu (leads the league in goals with 46, assists with 38 and points with 84), defender Wes McLeod (leads league with 77 blocked shots) and midfielder Kevin Smith.
St. Louis--Defender Fernando Clavijo (fourth in MSL with 60 blocks), forward Preki (second in league with 44 goals and 75 points), midfielder Claudio De Oliveira and defender Daryl Doran.
Tacoma--Defender Ralph Black and forward Gary Heale.
McLeod and Smith were Newman’s other choices.
The East team will be announced today.
Wright expressed surprise at his selection despite being second on the Sockers in assists (17) and third in goals (23).
“I definitely didn’t expect it,” he said. “When you think of All-Stars, you think of guys like Branko Segota, Brian Quinn and Kevin Crow. It’s kind of weird to have my name in there with those guys.”
Wright is in his third year in the league. Hirmez is in his seventh year of indoor soccer.
“I was happy to hear that I made it,” Hirmez said. “I was glad to find out it’s final and to know I’m there.”
Hirmez is enjoying his most productive season. With 28 goals and 23 games to go, he will easily surpass his career-high 30 he scored in 1987-88.
“I think a lot has to do with the people around me,” Hirmez said. “Guys like Brian Quinn, Branko Segota, Kevin Crow--these are great players who just up your level of play another notch.”
Crow and Quinn have been selected to the All-Star Game for seven consecutive seasons. Crow is currently seventh in the MSL with 55 blocks.
The Dallas Sidekicks on Monday announced that reigning Coach of the Year Billy Phillips has been fired and replaced by his predecessor, team president Gordon Jago.
Dallas is 12-19, in last place in the MSL West and 6 1/2 games out of first.
