San Diego Sockers Game Notes: Ron Newman Cup Championship vs Detroit
March 11, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers (18-2) vs. Detroit Waza (18-2)
DATE: Monday March 11th, 2013
PLACE: Valley View Casino Center
TIME: 7:35pm (PDT)
BROADCAST: Mighty 1090-AM (audio)
AmericaOneSports.com (PPV video)
Road to the Newman Cup Final
SOCKERS: Pacific Division Champions (15-1)
d. Turlock 12-11 (OT), 13-4
d. Las Vegas 6-5 (OT)
WAZA: Eastern Division Champions (14-2)
d. Cincinnati 9-4, 6-5
d. RGV Flash 6-5 (OT)
RON NEWMAN CUP CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
The San Diego Sockers take on the Detroit Waza Flo for the second straight season to conclude the PASL Ron Newman Cup championships. This is the third ever meeting between the Sockers and Waza, and for the third straight time, a championship is on the line. Last year in their first-ever meeting, San Diego defeated Detroit 10-7 to capture their third straight PASL championship. On March 2nd, the Waza enacted a measure of revenge with a 7-6 victory in the championship game of the U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer.
A CLASSIC NIGHT: GOLDEN GOAL SEMI-FINALS
The stage was set for tonight's championship showdown with a pair of thrilling finishes in Sunday's semi-final contests. The Waza advanced with a 6-5 overtime victory over the Rio Grande Valley Flash on Miki Djerisilo's golden goal with 90 seconds remaining in the extra period. Detroit scored on the power play after the Flash were whistled for six team fouls in OT. The Sockers likewise needed extra time to reach the final, beating Las Vegas 6-5 in OT on Chiky Luna's golden goal.
LAST GAME: LUNA SENDS THEM HOME HAPPY
Chiky Luna's scissor kick golden goal 1:20 into sudden death overtime gave the San Diego Sockers a heart-stopping 6-5 victory over the Las Vegas Legends at the Valley View Casino Center. A PASL playoff-record crowd of 4,278 saw Luna slide down at the right edge of the crease, converting a Diego Rovira pass into the semi-final winning score. Kraig Chiles scored two goals and Aaron Susi had a goal and two assists to pace the Sockers.
ONE LAST RUN FOR PAUL WRIGHT
Legendary Sockers midfielder Paul Wright announced today prior to the game that he would retire at the end of the championship match tonight. Wright, 43, has played 24 years of professional soccer and is seeking his seventh championship ring tonight. "P-3" recorded six goals and three assists in 11 games this season. He missed last night's game with a sore hamstring.
RECORD-SETTING SOCKERS
A 15-1 regular season saw the Sockers set both team and individual records while dominating the PASL. San Diego set new team records for goals (188), assists (160) and points (348) while tying the PASL team record for assists in a season (Stockton, '08-09) and improving their own league record for regular season plus/minus (+117). The Sockers also set a PASL record by scoring eight short-handed goals in a season, and extended their team record with a 32-0 regular season all-time home record in league games.
CHILES WINS THIRD STRAIGHT PASL MVP
Make it an MVP hat trick for the top scorer in the history of the PASL. Kraig Chiles won his third consecutive PASL MVP award when league voting was revealed on Tuesday. Chiles set new league records for goals (56) and points (72) in the regular season, and set a playoff record with seven goals scored in a game during the first round sweep of Turlock.
FARBER, SUSI EARN ALL LEAGUE HONORS
Three Sockers were awarded with all-PASL honors this week. Midfielder Brian Farber (26 goals, 20 assists, 46 points) was named a first-team all-PASL midfielder, joining Chiles on the all-league first team. 38-year-old Sockers captain Aaron Susi set career highs for both assists and total points this season and was named to the all-PASL second team. Susi dominated the position of target forward for San Diego, finishing with 19-32-51, bettering his previous career best for points (41, Stockton '08-'09) by a full ten points. Susi particularly shined at the VVCC in the regular season, notching 28 points in seven games.
SOCKERS POWER PLAY LEADS PASL
San Diego's power play led the PASL in regular season efficiency, with 26 goals in 50 chances (52%). The Sockers have not allowed a short-handed goal. SD is 28-for-38 killing power plays (73.7%) with a record eight short-handers. In the playoffs the Sockers are 9 for 12 (75%) for, 4 for 11 (64%) against.
THE STREAK IS OVER, LONG LIVE THE STREAK
It took 48 games, 25 months and extra time to finally end the longest winning streak in the history of U.S. professional team sports. The Sockers' 48-game winning streak stretched from December 29th, 2010 to January 27th, 2013 and was bracketed by overtime road losses, 9-8 to the California Cougars on December 27th 2010 and 6-5 to the Dallas Sidekicks on January 27th, 2013. Along the way, the Sockers broke the previous team mark of 40 straight wins, set by the Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football. The record streak included all "trophy games", defined as PASL regular and postseason, U.S. Open Cup elimination contests and the 2012 FIFRA Club Championships in Monterrey.
LONGEST U.S. PRO SPORTS TEAM WIN STREAKS
San Diego Sockers (PASL, 2010-2013): 48
Sioux Falls Storm (UIF, 2005-2008): 40
L.A. Lakers (NBA, 1971-72): 33
Washington Kastles (WTT, 2011-present): 32*
Norfolk Admirals (AHL, 2012): 29
Salt Lake City Trappers (MILB, 1987): 29
*active streak
WHO SAYS GOALIES CAN'T SCORE?
It's one of the rarest feats you'll see in soccer, but a goalkeeper can score a goal. The Sockers' Riley Swift proved the point on February 1st against the Dallas Sidekicks, putting a kick directly on goal against his opposing keeper Sagu in the fourth quarter. When Sagu bobbled the high shot and saw it drop over the line, Swift had his first goal in any soccer game, pro or amateur, outdoor or indoor. Swift also stopped a penalty kick shootout by Dallas forward Jamie Lovegrove in the dramatic 5-4 victory. On the season Swift (8-1, 4.85 GAA) had three points, with a goal and two assists. Riley continued his offensive-minded performances in the opening leg of the Turlock playoff series, recording a career-best three assists in San Diego's 12-11 win.
FARBER SETS RECORD FOR SHORTIES
Sockers all-PASL midfielder Brian Farber set a new personal best in San Diego with 46 points this season (26-20-46), but his knack for scoring short-handed was the best in league history. Farber scored a record five "shorties" this year, including two short-handed goals in 11 seconds in a 10-3 win over Harrisburg on January 25 th. Farber had two short-handed goals in last Sunday's regular season ending 15-9 win over Toros de Mexico, a game which featured a team and league record four shorties for SD.
SOCKERS MAGIC? LATE GOALS A TRENDING TOPIC
Luna's golden goal was just the latest sudden strike for San Diego. Eduardo Velez stunned Dallas on 2/1 with his game-winning goal in the final second of regulation for a 5-4 win, moments after Ze Roberto had tied the game with 41 seconds remaining. In Dallas on 1/27, Kraig Chiles tied the score at 5-5 with 6.7 seconds remaining on the regulation clock. In Las Vegas, Brian Farber's header goal with 2.2 seconds left gave the Sockers a 6-5 win. On the season the Sockers have scored 34 goals in the final two minutes of a quarter, half or game, 20 goals in the final :60 of a quarter, half or game, and two OT winners.
INJURY/LINEUP UPDATE
Paul Wright returns to the lineup after sitting out Sunday (hamstring). Chris Toth makes his second straight start in goal.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: SOCKERS vs. WAZA
Sockers
(regular season)
Waza
15-1
Record
14-2
0-1 (Open Cup)
Head-to-Head
1-0 (Open Cup)
188 (1st)
Goals
162 (3rd)
71 (T-3rd)
Goals Against
80 (5th)
8-0/7-1
Home/Road
8-0/6-2
26-50, 52% (1st)
Power Play
27-52, 51.9% (2nd)
10-38, 74% (6th)
Penalty Kill
11-57, 81% (2nd)
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: DETROIT WAZA (18-2)
The Waza had their best season under head coach/player/owner Dominic Scicluna, finishing 14-2 including a perfect 8-0 record at home. Detroit advanced to the Ron Newman Cup semifinals by sweeping Cincinnati in the Eastern Division playoff 9-4 and 6-5. Veterans Miki Djerisilo (15-19-34) and Costea Decu (23-5-28) lead a balanced Detroit offense. Ten different Waza players have scored at least eight goals during the regular season. Rookie goalkeeper Joe Kapinos (13-1, 4.63 GAA, 75% save percentage) has shined in helping Detroit to the 5 th lowest goals allowed in the PASL. Detroit led the league with 27 power play goals. Burly forward Worteh Sampson returned to the Waza lineup and contributed a goal, while assisting on Djerisilo's golden goal. Scicluna (illness) is a game-time decision to return to the Detroit lineup.
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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from March 11, 2013
- San Diego Sockers Game Notes: Ron Newman Cup Championship vs Detroit - San Diego Sockers
- Sockers Championship Final to Air on Mighty 1090 AM - San Diego Sockers
- Waza, Sockers Earn Finals Rematch with OT Wins - PASL
- Chiky's OT Strike Sends San Diego into PASL Championship Game - San Diego Sockers
- Detroit Waza Flo Earns Trip To The Finals - Waza Flo
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