Seadogs Can't Catch Houston

HOUSTON - Seattle started and finished strongly, but couldn't stop Houston in the middle and lost 9-8 to the Hotshots last night in a Continental Indoor Soccer League game.

Houston improved its record to 2-2. Seattle fell to 1-3.

The SeaDogs got off to a 2-0 lead and scored the final three goals of the game. In between, Houston scored five unanswered goals in the second and third periods.

"Houston played a very aggressive game," Seattle Coach Fernando Clavijo said. "We fought back. It's unfortunate we came up short in the end."

Down three goals at the 6:48 mark of the third period, the SeaDogs were started on the comeback by Juvenal Dos Santos' second goal of the season.

Seattle went to the sixth attacker with 1:29 left, but was unable to score.

Mirko Castillo led Seattle with three goals and one assist, recording the first SeaDog hat trick of the season. Bruce Broughton and Ben Erickson scored two goals each. Erickson's two goals were power-play goals, capitalizing on the SeaDogs' two extra-man opportunities.

Ziad Allen led Houston with three goals and three assists.

The Hotshots recorded 15 penalty minutes and 27 fouls. Houston forward Paul Dougherty was ejected for violent conduct.

Juan De La O got his second start in goal for Seattle, recording nine saves on 24 shots. John Hamel saw his first action as a SeaDog in place of the injured Dave Mattson.

Seattle plays the Dallas Sidekicks at Reunion Arena today at 5 p.m.