There`s something about a Sting-St. Louis Steamers` match that transcends the geographic rivalry. Regardless of records, each team seems to bring out the best in the other.
There`s fast-paced action, goal scoring, excellent goalkeeping and, on occasion, the type of physical play acceptable only in hockey.
So it should be Sunday night when the Sting, 12-13 and fresh from a 10-4 thrashing of Soviet power Dynamo Moscow Thursday night, plays host to the Steamers at the Horizon.
”We want to go .500 before the All-Star game,” Sting coach Erich Geyer said after Thursday`s match. ”That`s more important.”
Indeed, Geyer wants his club to be at least even before Wednesday night`s eighth Major Indoor Soccer League All-Star game at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Not bad for a team that began at 1-7.
”St. Louis is a very well-disciplined team,” Geyer said. ”It`s the kind of team you have to wear down. You won`t get by easy.”
Steamers` coach Pat McBride repaid the compliments.
”Chicago is a team with a lot of heart,” McBride said. ”They impress me. They have quality players and are capable of beating you anytime, anywhere. I haven`t seen them since they got Frantz Mathieu and Ernie Buriano, but I know they`ll help.”
A few victories wouldn`t hurt McBride, whose club managed only 9 in its first 25 outings.
In this, the Year of the Coaching Change with four casualties already, rumors of McBride`s departure have been whispered.
”Sure, there`s pressure,” McBride admitted. ”You know you`re being gauged on results at the end of the day. From that standpoint, I feel the pressure. I`m coming off a year where we didn`t tear `em up (23-25). We made the playoffs. But this year, we dug a hole by starting 0-5. It`s tough to fiht back.
”The players feel pressure, too. It`s just a matter of doing the job that`s at hand.”
A player who has done the job is midfielder John Bain, obtained recently in a curious trade with Kansas City for forward Louie Nanchoff. The Comets apparently were anxious to prove that no one is untouchable by trading a player of Bain`s caliber. ”It`s a good deal for us,” said McBride. ”We`ll probably use him more up front than they did in Kansas City. We still need more scoring punch.”
The Steamers have been among the lowest scoring teams in the league this season, but Geyer said: ”No matter what the statistics are, you know St. Louis is going to be tough. St. Louis works and fights hard all the time. You expect that from them.”
— Nominations for MISL quotes of the week are from Dynamo Moscow coach Eduard Malofeev and Sting president Kenny Stern during Thursday`s postgame press conference.
”I would like to stress that this (the Sting) is a beautiful team, a beautiful coach, a beautiful audience,” Malofeev said through an interpreter. ”And your goalie (Scoop Stanisic) is irresistible.”
Replied Stern: ”Thanks, but you can`t have him.”
— Midfielder Ruben Stivan of the Chicago Shoccers has been added to the Northern Division roster for the American Indoor Soccer Association All-Star game Feb. 21 in Louisville. Stivan joins teammates Martin Rincon, Elvis Comrie and Salvador Valencia for the second annual event.
— Defender Rudy Glenn is the Shoccers` only representative on the U.S. National Indoor team that plays in an eight-team Five-a-Side Football Tournament beginning Monday. The tournament runs through Feb. 13. Shoccers`
goalkeeper Paul Zimmerman and forward Mike Lashoff also were invited. But Lashoff is still injured and Shoccers` coach Mike Grbic doesn`t want to lose Zimmerman for a four-game period.
