Sockers to Face Dallas in Finals

The Dallas Sidekicks scored six consecutive goals and went on to an 8-4 victory over the Cleveland Crunch in Game 6 of their MSL semifinal series in front of 6,842 Sunday at Reunion Arena in Dallas.

With the victory, the Sidekicks clinched the series, 4-2, and move to the championship series against the Sockers, who got past the Baltimore Blast, 4-1, in the other semifinal.

Games 1 and 2 of the championship series will be at the Sports Arena Thursday and Saturday, each beginning at 7:35 p.m.

The Sockers have won the championship nine of the past 10 years. The Sidekicks are the only other MSL team to claim one while the Sockers have been in the league. However, it will be the first meeting between these two clubs in a title series.

The Sockers won four of seven games this season against Dallas.

Second-year goalie Hank Henry, pressed into action by a knee injury to starter Joe Papaleo during the final weekend of the regular series, played all six games of the semifinal series for Dallas. He had to make just six saves on Sunday while his defense came up with 18 blocks.

Richard Chinapoo led the offensive barrage, scoring four goals and assisting on another.

Cleveland’s Kai Haaskivi notched the game’s first goal midway through the first quarter, but the Crunch could not score again until late in the third quarter by which time Dallas had put in six of its own.

There were two glaring reasons for Cleveland’s trouble on offense: Hector Marinaro, the Crunch’s second-leading scorer, was ejected in the second quarter, and Karic, the team’s leading scorer, received a red card in the third quarter. In all, Cleveland was whistled for seven two-minute penalties to Dallas’ five.

MSL Finals

Sockers vs. Sidekicks

Day Site, Time Apr 30 Dallas at Sockers, 7:35 May 2 Dallas at Sockers, 7:35 May 5 Sockers at Dallas, 5:35 May 8 Sockers at Dallas, 5:35 May 9 Sockers at Dallas, 5:35* May 12 Dallas at Sockers, 7:35* May 15 Dallas at Sockers, 7:35*

* If necessary