PASL Points and Assists Records Fall as Sockers Crush Arizona 16-2
February 10, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAN DIEGO--Kraig Chiles matched a career high with a nine point game, racking up five goals and four assists to set a new PASL single-season points record, as the San Diego Sockers smashed the Arizona Storm 16-2 in front of 4,703 at the Valley View Casino Center. Chiles' five goals gave him 54 for the season, already bettering his league goals mark, and nine points gave him 70 for the year, besting Bernie Lilavois' 2008-09 PASL record of 68 points in a season. Aaron Susi added a goal and five assists, giving him 29 assists for the year, also a new PASL record.
"Last year I came so close (to the points record, coming up two points short), and all my teammates kind of catered to me and Susi to get those records," said Chiles, "It was a complete team effort and a lot of guys took a lesser role to make sure we did what we needed to do. I couldn't be happier to break that record."
The Sockers (14-1) capped off an 8-0 regular season home schedule, improving to 42-0 all-time at home since returning to action in 2009. Defender Ze Roberto set a new career high with a five-point game, racking up two goals and three assists. Brian Farber scored twice with a helper, with Chad Hagerty, Raymundo Reza, Eduardo Velez and Anthony Medina also finding the back of the net for San Diego. SDSU rookie Matt Couch added his first career PASL goal on a Chiles assist.
San Diego jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the opening quarter, with Martin, Hagerty, Chiles and Farber scoring. Chiles' second of the game made it 5-0 early in the second quarter. Chris Green answered with Arizona's lone goal of the first half at 10:17, solving Sockers keeper Riley Swift (7-1), who played the opening half before turning the pipes over to Chris Toth. Chiles, Couch and Roberto quickly responded to give the Sockers an 8-1 lead at the half.
Two records fell on one touch in the third quarter, as Aaron Susi's assist on Chiles' 53rd goal of the year (and record-tying 68th point) gave the Sockers captain his fourth helper of the night and 28th of the year, matching Lilavois' previous league-best total from '08-'09. Chiles broke the points record on an assist to Raymundo Reza with 13:31 remaining in the fourth. Susi flicked a ball over his head to the back post with twenty seconds left in the game, headed home by Brian Farber for Susi's fifth assist of the night and 29th of the year to set the assists record.
San Diego's 42nd consecutive home victory came against an Arizona (5-10) team playing without its top two scorers. The Storm lost player-coach Steven Green to a ruptured Achilles' tendon in the second quarter. Andy Szerlac also scored for the Storm.
The Sockers will wrap up their regular season next Sunday when they take on Toros de Mexico at Unisantos Park in Tijuana. The Pacific Division playoffs will begin on February 23rd at the Valley View Casino Center, when the Sockers host the second-place Turlock Express. The two teams will meet on the following night (the 24th) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second leg of the playoffs. If the teams split the two-game playoff, a 15-minute mini-game will follow Game Two to determine the winner. The Ron Newman Cup semi-finals and finals will be held on March 10th and 11th at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego. Playoff tickets will go on sale Tuesday at the Sockers office, available by phone at (866) 799-GOAL and online via TicketMaster at sdsockers.com.
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