Toth presented with Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame plaque

Zoltan Toth was selected for induction into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame during 2013 and was presented with his Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame plaque on Jan. 11, 2014.

The San Diego Sockers’ Jan. 11 home game was designated as Reunion Night which included halftime recognition of past Sockers players as well as the presentation of plaques to Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame inductees.

“It’s very nice,” Toth said. “I am very pleased because I think I deserved it.”

Toth, who lived in Oceanside when he played for the Sockers and moved to Fallbrook in 1996, spent 12 seasons as a goalkeeper in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the New York Arrows, the Sockers, and the St. Louis Steamers. His 168-84 record equates to a winning percentage of .667, which was the highest in MISL history. His 4.03 goals against average was also the MISL’s best ever. Despite splitting time in the nets with Shep Messing during his Arrows years and with Sockers goalies Jim Gorsek and Victor Nogueira, Toth is fifth on the all-time MISL list for wins. He led the MISL in goals against average twice, once with the Arrows and once with the Sockers.

“He’s the greatest indoor goalie in history,” said Sockers general manager John Kentera. “Zollie’s got the best average of any indoor keeper that played more than 10 minutes in the league.”

Toth played four seasons for the Arrows before the Sockers acquired him in 1984. He was the MISL’s leading goalkeeper in 1982-83 with a goals against average of 4.01 per game.

Toth played in 152 regular-season games and 43 playoff contests during his six seasons with the Sockers. His 2.94 GAA in 1987-88 led the league and earned him MISL goalkeeper of the year honors. During the first four of Toth’s Sockers seasons he split time in the nets with Gorsek. Nogueira was Toth’s goalkeeping complement in 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Toth closed out his career with St. Louis in 1990-91 and 1991-92. “My record was very good,” he said.

Toth’s father, Gyorgy, played for the Hungarian national team in the 1940s. Zoltan Toth also played with the Hungarian national team before defecting to the United States.

Toth spoke minimal English after defecting and starting his MISL career. Although he normally wore uniform number 1, when the Arrows’ equipment manager asked him what his uniform number was Toth thought the question referred to his shoe size and thus was given uniform number 11. “Number 11 was very lucky to me,” he said.

Toth had sufficient English skills when he joined the Sockers to be issued uniform number 1. On Feb. 26, 2011, the Sockers retired Toth’s uniform number 1 (allowing Riley Swift to wear that number until he retires while also contemplating the possibility that Chris Toth will take his father’s old uniform after Swift’s retirement). Toth’s number was the sixth to be retired by the Sockers, including coach Ron Newman, who did not wear a uniform.

“It’s not so easy to win in this game,” Toth said. “For a goalie you have to really be fast, mentally tough.”

Toth won seven MISL championships with the Arrows and Sockers. “I wanted to win one more,” he said. “I’m still getting nightmares over those games that I did not win.”

During the 1991-92 playoffs Toth broke three ribs and had a concussion. “My son came to me and said: ‘Daddy, let’s go fishing with me,” he said. “I was broken; I was 37, and I say to him: ‘You are a great kid’.”

Toth has two sons and one daughter, all of whom played soccer for Fallbrook High School. Zack Toth, who is now 27 and a firefighter/paramedic for the Rincon Indian Reservation fire department, is the son who suggested that Toth spend more time with him. Chris Toth, who is now 24, is currently the Sockers’ goalkeeper. Gabriella Toth is 22 and a business major at Cal State San Marcos. Zoltan and Annterese Toth have been married for 29 years.

Zoltan Toth has no regrets about retiring when he did. “I’m happy because I can still walk. Even if my knee hurts, I can still walk straight,” he said.

He continued with the sport of soccer even after he stopped playing professionally. “I gave my knowledge to the kids,” he said.

Chris Toth and Swift share goalkeeping duties for the Sockers. Swift was one of Zoltan Toth’s private students. In addition to being a Sockers goalie, Chris Toth is also on the U.S. beach soccer national team.

The Sockers lost their Jan. 11 game to the Las Vegas Legends by a 12-9 score. Chris Toth was the Sockers’ goalkeeper until the team pulled the goalie for a sixth attacker. “I cheered for him so much to somehow survive this,” Zoltan Toth said.

“It’s not over. Even if you give up eight goals you can win that game,” Toth said. “You have to find a way to win it.”

The Sockers began the game without injured starting defenders Scott Martin and Evan McNeley, and in the first quarter defender Eduardo Velez received a red card for elbowing Las Vegas midfielder Israel Sesay.

“I think the red card was a little too strong,” Zoltan Toth said. “Take out a couple of good players and try to match a team like Las Vegas, it’s a task.”

Chris Toth allowed only one goal in the Sockers’ next game, a 13-1 home win Jan. 18 against the Bay Area Rosal.