SPLASH NOTEBOOK / MARTIN HENDERSON : Players-Only Meeting Helps Give Team Boost

How bad was the Splash’s 12-9 loss to San Jose?

It was so bad . . .

* They scored nine goals--and lost.

* They were suddenly unable to control their destiny.

* They were 10-10 playing the Continental Indoor Soccer League’s easiest schedule.

* They were faced with only eight games to salvage a season in which they expected to win the Southern Division title--at least.

So the team closed its doors and had a players-only meeting nine days ago.

Since then, the Splash has been nearly flawless in victories over Arizona (5-3) and first-place San Diego (6-3).

So, just what went on in that meeting?

A lot of communication and a lot of clearing of the air. The major themes that came out of the 70-minute closed-door gathering:

* Their backs are against the wall.

* Every game is a playoff game.

* There needs to be a more competitive spirit, not only in games, but in practices.

* There must be more positive reinforcement among players instead of negative chipping.

* There must be more communication on the field.

* They must show more discipline on defense.

One player said afterward: “We have no choice but to win. We need to put 20 games behind us and make it an eight-game mini-season.”

Another said the team’s quietest player, Francisco Jaime, spoke volumes when he said that players “yell and scream at each other for the obvious things; we don’t need to be so quick to yell.”

That player agreed: “I think we’ve been a little negative. We know when we screw up. It’s bad enough to make a mistake, there’s no need to humiliate that person.”

Among those who have been berated often by their teammates--not only in games, but in practice--are goalkeepers Ruben Fernandez and Jorge Valenzuela.

In his last start before the meeting, Fernandez gave up seven goals in a 7-3 loss to Monterrey and his goals-against average rose to 6.26, fifth-best in the CISL.

In two starts since (Valenzuela played against San Jose), Fernandez lowered his GAA to a league-best 5.75. He didn’t allow a goal in the second half of the games against Arizona or San Diego. That positive reinforcement is apparently going a long way. None of the six goals allowed since that meeting has occurred within a minute of a Splash goal, though there were four such goals in the loss to San Jose.

However, it was obvious Fernandez had a lot of help to go along with those 27- and 14-save games.

Needing to win at least five of its final eight to have a legitimate chance of qualifying for the playoffs, the Splash are 2-0 in their “mini season.” The Splash, 6-4 on the road, have four road games left. They have two games left against second-place Mexico, including one Sunday at the Pond, and one in San Diego. There are single games left in Arizona and Seattle--two teams with losing records.

The season ends Oct. 1 at The Pond against Dallas.

“We don’t feel we’ve played anyone that we can’t beat,” said co-captain Denis Hamlett, who called the meeting after the San Jose loss. “[Coach George Fernandez] tried everything in the book to make sure we played well. It finally hit us when we hit rock bottom. You go from championship contender to not making the playoffs--that hit us.

“[But] once you get on a roll come playoff time, it’s anybody’s game.”

*

The return of Dale Ervine brought out more signs and banners for the Arizona game than any this season, most of them supportive of Ervine and critical of Fernandez, the coach. Rest easy, fans, Fernandez saw them:

* “Ervine we miss you. Trade our coach, get Ervine back.”

* “Splash--trade your coach; keep scoring, Dale.”

* “Tim Ryan is a moron.”

Ryan, Splash general manager, had nothing to do with the trade. Ervine fell out of favor with Fernandez, who resolved to get rid of his all-star forward and the team’s leading scorer.

There was also another one that Fernandez couldn’t ignore; it faced the Splash bench: “Eight games and counting; bye bye, George.”

Said Fernandez: “Little do they know that I’ll be here longer than they will.”

That may be true; Fernandez and Tim Orchard were college roommates. Orchard is not only player personnel director, he is also co-governor--which makes him the Splash equivalent of, say, Al Davis.

And of course, the Splash are 2-0 in the first two of these final eight games.

*

Aug. 25 was a bad night for Valenzuela. Not only was he beaten, 7-3, by Monterrey, but he also fell out of the CISL record book. Portland’s Jim Brazeau recorded the league’s first shutout, a 10-0 victory over Pittsburgh.

Valenzuela had been cited as the player coming closest to recording a shutout when he went 59:59 before Beto scored with one second remaining in a 12-1 victory last year against Houston. Valenzuela still holds the record for longest elapsed time without allowing a goal, 91:26