Heat vs. Sockers - Match Preview
December 3, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Harrisburg Heat News Release
The Harrisburg Heat play their third consecutive home contest this Saturday against the San Diego Sockers at 2pm at the Pa Farm Show Large Arena. The last time out, the Heat hosted Baltimore and fell 9-2 to a Blast club with a roster that most pundits feel will compete for a league championship.
Final scores can be deceiving as was the one with the Blast, the final score did not show that the match was tight until Baltimore began to pull away in the fourth and final period. The Blast led 3-0 at the half, but the Heat came out charging in the third and cut the deficit to one goal off of tallies from forwards Chris Hall and Patrick Thompson, but the Blast responded with 6 unanswered markers of their own to fend off the Heat attack for the victory during the final two frames.
"I don't think the score really told the story of where we were and how we competed," said Heat head coach Tarik Walker. "I am liking how we defended the run of play. We have to defend on set plays better."
The Heat scored 7 goals on the road in it's season opener at Detroit, since returing home, Harrisburg has scored just 3 goals in 2 contests. Missouri and Baltimore, the opponents in those two games, are both complete rosters with eyes on a league title, but coach Walker believes his team must find a way to find the back of the net more consistently.
"We have to create more scoring chances," he said. Â "We have gotten better at posession, but that has to lead to more scoring chances in order for us to win games."
San Diego features a balanced attack with 3 forwards in particular that really get it going offensively. Craig Chiles, and Erick Tovar, and lead the Sockers in scoring respectively. Nick Perera, tied for third on the team in points, is also player the Heat must eye. The danger of playing San Diego is concentrating too much on these 3 players.
"They are a team that can play quick and slow the game down to target players," said Walker. "If we spend too much attention on one player, they have other players that are very experienced defenders that know how to get into attacks to score."
One thing that makes Perera so tough is his height. He is listed at 6'3" and he uses his frame to his advantage.
"Perera is a target with a size advantage on mostly every defender in the league," said Walker. "Although he is coming off an injury, the key for us will be to limit his ability to get the ball in dangerous areas. He can hold off defenders and pass or turn on defenders. We have to limit the amount of time Perera and Chiles get on the ball."
Walker expects to see the very solid Chris Toth in net for Sockers on Saturday.
Forward Val Teixeira leads the Heat in points with 4, followed by forwards Chris Hall and Kenny Fultz with 3 a piece, and defender Chris Williams has 3 also. Chris Hall leads the team in goals with 3, followed by Fultz with 2.
It looks like Scott Krotee will get the nod for the second consecutive time in the Harrisburg net.
Walker hopes to avoid defensive lapses that have plagued the team at some point during both home contests so far.
To purchase tickets anytime day or night, visit Harrisburgheat.com.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from December 3, 2015
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- Heat vs. Sockers - Match Preview - Harrisburg Heat
- Stars, Sidekicks Primed for Pair of Weekend Matches - Tacoma Stars
- Preview: Comets Put Undefeated Season on the Line against the Milwaukee Wave - Kansas City Comets
- Game Preview: Baltimore Blast vs. San Diego Sockers - Baltimore Blast
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