Sockers Fighting Battle of Attrition

ST. LOUIS —  It’s billed as the MSL Western Division finals, but the only battle both teams seem to be fighting is one of attrition.

The Sockers will likely be without the services of forward Branko Segota tonight at The Arena in Game 4 of the best-of-seven series they lead, 2-1. Also hobbled with injuries are forward Paul Wright (left calf) and midfielder Jim Gabarra (left thigh), though both are expected to play.

On the other side, the Storm definitely will be without: goalie Zoltan Toth, who suffered three broken ribs in Game 1; midfielder Thompson Usiyan, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Game 3; and defender David Eise, who broke his left arm in Game 3.

Eise was playing in place of Mike Fox, who broke his nose in the semifinals against Tacoma and who is still out.

There’s more. Bobo Lucic, who played well in his first home game in four months in Game 3, also injured a knee in that one and might miss tonight’s game. He has been unable to practice this week.

In addition, the Storm have been without Claudio De Oliveira, a Paul Dougherty-type of player, since midseason.

“The situation is very bad for us,” Coach Don Popovic said. “But we are a good team and we still have some dangerous players and we’re going to fight all the way.”

Actually, the Storm has one dangerous player left, Preki, who finished second in the MSL with 121 points (68 goals, 53 assists) and has nine goals and five assists in six playoff games.

In an effort to make up for all the losses, Popovic hopes to have Gino DiFlorio suited up tonight. DiFlorio, who played five years in the MSL, played this season with Canton of the National Professional Soccer League. Popovic last night was still waiting for the paperwork to clear on DiFlorio.

The Sockers feel lucky having lost only one player.