Sockers beat Arizona 18-3 for 40th straight win
November 18, 2012 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
GLENDALE, AZ--Kraig Chiles scored six goals and added an assist as the San Diego Sockers blew out the Arizona Storm 18-3 at the Arizona Sports Complex, earning their 40th consecutive victory. The win ties the US professional team sports record for consecutive wins, shared by the Sioux Falls Storm of indoor football.
"It's huge for this team and our franchise," said midfielder Brian Farber (pictured, right) of the winning streak, which encompasses a Sockers run of 27 consecutive Professional Arena Soccer League regular season victories, four PASL playoff wins, five US Open elimination victories and a 4-0 run through the 2012 FIFRA Club Championships in Monterrey, Mexico.
"We're going to come home in front of our fans on Friday night and try to break the record. We want to keep this winning streak alive for a long time."
Trailing 2-1 after the first quarter, the Sockers (3-0) scored the next eleven goals to turn a close contest into a rout. Chiles netted a hat trick by halftime as the Sockers outscored Arizona 7-0 in the second quarter. Farber added two goals and five assists for a seven-point night, while team captain Aaron Susi added two goals and three assists for a five-point game. The eighteen goals mark the most scored by the Sockers in a single game since joining the PASL in 2009-10. The Sockers also won their sixteenth straight road game.
"(The streak) is nice, but what's most important tonight is we played well and got the win," said Susi, "We don't play for the streak, we play for our team and ourselves, and our goal is to win games and win championships."
Diego Rovira and Eduardo Velez added two goals for the Sockers as part of a reshuffled lineup that saw three veterans return to action while two others sat out. Rovira had missed the opening two games of the season with a groin injury, while defenders John Krause (Puerto Rican National Team) and Dan Antoniuk (NASL Tampa Bay Rowdies) made their season debuts after returning from their outdoor commitments. Krause scored a goal and an assist to make his return impactful. Meanwhile, veterans Paul Wright and Ze Roberto missed the game on personal leave.
The Sockers had their best game in the PASL on the power play, converting five-of-six man advantage opportunities. The inexperienced Storm (1-2) were called twice for having too many men on the field and repeatedly surrendered free kicks to the Sockers, who converted four restart goals, a season high.
Chris Toth (1-0) made his season debut in goal for San Diego, stopping fourteen shots while improving to 11-0 all-time in PASL action. Toth had been starting in goal for the US Beach Soccer National Team. Rookie Raymundo Reza (SDSU) scored his second goal of the season and added an assist.
Mitch Garcia led Arizona with a goal and an assist.
San Diego will seek to claim the US pro win streak record as their own in their next contest, Friday November 23rd against Toros de Mexico from the Valley View Casino Center. Tickets are available for the 7:35pm kickoff at 866-799-GOAL or online through TicketMaster at sdsockers.com.
• Discuss this story on the Professional Arena Soccer League message board...
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from November 18, 2012
- Sockers beat Arizona 18-3 for 40th straight win - San Diego Sockers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
