Ontario V. San Diego Match Preview
December 17, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
Ze Roberto of the San Diego Sockers Discards an Ontario Fury Defender
(San Diego Sockers)
Carlsbad, CA - While we have yet to reach the halfway point of the Major Arena Soccer League season, it will be a must win match for the San Diego Sockers (4-4) when they take on Pacific Division rivals, the Ontario Fury (3-3)* on Saturday night at the Valley View Casino Center. Kick-off is set for 7:05pm PT.
The Sockers are coming off a 9-7 loss to the Dallas Sidekicks. San Diego trailed 8-1 before using the sixth attacker for the majority of the final quarter to make a game of it, but came up just short and now resides in third in the Pacific Division.
Making its position even more precarious heading into Saturday's match is that Ontario can catch them with a win at home on Friday night against second placed Tacoma.
Kraig Chiles knows there can be no slow starts like the one San Diego suffered in Dallas.
"It was probably a combination of heavy legs and not having the right mentality during the warmups going into the game," The Sockers captain explained about the flat start in Texas.
"We might make an adjustment to our warmups and it's going to be hammered into the guys during this week of training that we have to play a full four quarters," Chiles continued. "We need to start the game the way we did against Atletico Baja, pressuring them from the beginning and not waiting till we are in a whole to dig ourselves out."
Ontario is San Diego's main rivals, not only in terms of division and distance, but because of the many run-ins between the players as well as the coaching battle between Phil Salvagio and Bernie Lilavois. The Salvagio-Lilavois saga dates back to the latter's days in charge of the now defunct Anaheim Bolts.
The rivalry intensified this season with Ontario's improved roster (Salvagio and his men are the first to admit that this is the best side the Fury have ever fielded) and by virtue of the fact that Ontario got it's first ever win against San Diego back on November 21st.
The Sockers got their revenge a week later, overturning a 6-3 fourth quarter deficit to prevail 8-7 in a shootout.
Another close encounter is expected on Saturday as the teams lock horns for the third of their four meetings this season.
"These games [against Ontario] are going to be decided on either individual mistakes or on moments of individual brilliance," Chiles explained. "Both teams are fairly even and are fighting for one of the remaining playoff spots in the West. We understand the importance of winning the series against Ontario."
"Every game from here on out is massive and it starts this Saturday. In my opinion it's the first playoff game of the year and I will do everything in my power to make sure we are all united to get the job done," Chiles concluded.
For the first time in a while, the tables will be turned. After playing four games in four cities in nine days, the Sockers had a week to regroup while the Fury will be playing its second match in the space of 24 hours.
Chiles leads the Sockers' offense with nine goals and eleven assists and Matt Clare has four goals in his last two games.
For Ontario, Mauricio Salles leads the charge with nine goals and six assists while Juan Topete has scored four of his seven goals against his former club.
Saturday will also be iHeart Media- Star 94.1 Night. Fans will get the chance to kick it with Jesse Lozano of Jesse Lozano in the Morning while a few lucky fans will join him on the field at halftime for a special contest.
Good tickets are still available by calling 1-866-799-GOAL.
* Ontario's record will change based on its result at home against Tacoma on Friday night.
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from December 17, 2015
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