The Splash shored up its back line...

The Splash shored up its back line by trading one of indoor soccer’s most explosive scorers for a former defensive player of the year.

Paul Wright, recently selected fourth in the Continental Indoor Soccer League draft by the Splash, was traded to Sacramento for defender Sean Bowers.

Bowers should fill the gap left by Ralph Black, last year’s defensive player of the year. Black, who wanted to play closer to his home in Tacoma, Wash., was traded to expansion Seattle for the fourth pick, which was used to draft Wright.

Bowers, 26, is six years younger than Black and, at 6 feet 2 inches, 185 pounds, is six inches taller and 20 pounds heavier. Two years ago, Bowers had a CISL-high 71 blocks; he played four games last year before signing with Detroit of the National Professional Soccer League and was the NPSL’s top defender.

Wright, 24, totaled 235 goals and 162 assists in 233 indoor games and is regarded as one of the fastest indoor players. He played outdoors for the Salsa and was one of the American Professional Soccer League’s leading scorers.