Professional Arena Soccer League Update
February 12, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) News Release
Flash and Mustangs to Vie for Last Playoff Spot
2/12/13 - While the other seven playoff spots have been secured, the Chicago Mustangs and Rio Grande Valley Flash are still alive in the fight for the final Central Division berth. The two teams will meet Friday in Texas with everything on the line.
Chicago (11-4) can clinch a spot outright with a win. Rio Grande Valley (10-4) can clinch by winning by two goals or more. If the Flash win by just one goal they will need to beat the Texas Strikers on Saturday night to finish the job. The Mustangs hold the slight edge because they beat the Flash 10-9 on December 28.
Chicago has added Quentin Vazquez and Rodrigo Flores to bring the number of Guerreros Guadalajara players on their roster to six. Guerreros and the Flash, when they were based in Monterrey, were finalists in the Mexican LMFR so the game will also serve as a de facto rematch.
The celebration for either team will be short because the team that advances will have to face the Central Division champion Dallas Sidekicks
Player of the Week
Kraig Chiles, San Diego Sockers
The Sockers had an easy 16-2 win over the Arizona Storm, but Chiles didn't show any mercy piling up five goals and four assists. What was particularly notable, though, was that Chiles became the first PASL player to score 50 goals in a season and extended his league record to 54. Bigger than that, perhaps, he broke Bernie Lilavois' league points record that has stood since 2008/09. Lilavois scored 68 points that year, while Chiles currently sits at 70 with one game remaining. To add further perspective, his nine point night was more than any player on the Ohio Vortex has accrued all season and Chiles has single handedly outscored them 54-37. Chiles has just four less goals than the Sacramento Surge and eight less than the Texas Strikers.
Kick Starters - Conversations you should be having about the PASL
Tatu Feted by Dallas Legends
The Dallas Sidekicks retired Tatu's number nine on Saturday. The legendary former player and current head coach received a fitting tribute from former coaches and teammates, but got a special surprise video tribute where he was given signed jerseys from area icons Nolan Ryan, Roger Staubach, Mike Modano and Dirk Nowitzki. Those were capped off by the presentation of another jersey from fellow Brazilian and soccer great Pele.
Sockers Still Perfect at Home
San Diego is still an all-time 32-0 at home during the regular season. Their win over Arizona completed their fourth straight 8-0 home mark.
US Open Final Set
The Detroit Waza will host the finals of the US Open Arena Soccer Championship against the Sockers on March 2 at Melvindale Ice Arena & Community Center. This will be the second finals appearance for Detroit, who lost the first ever US Open final to the St. Louis Illusion in 2009. The Sockers are the three-time reigning US Open champions.
Magic Numbers
The Dallas Sidekicks clinched the Central Division with a win over the Rockford Rampage. San Diego, Las Vegas, and Detroit had already clinched their respective divisions.
Kapinos Breaks League Record
The Detroit Waza's Joe Kapinos set a new PASL record with 13 goalkeeper wins. Craig Salvati and Riley Swift had each won 12 in prior seasons. Kapinos, in his rookie season, was tasked with replacing All-League First Team goalkeeper Vito Lonigro, and has responded by helping lead Detroit to a franchise-best 14-2 season.
The Week Ahead
Chicago at Rio Grande Valley Fri, Feb 15 8:30 pm State Farm
Rio Grande Valley at Texas Sat, Feb 16 8:05 pm Ford Arena
Tacoma at Sacramento Sat, Feb 16 10:30 pm Off The Wall
Harrisburg at Ohio Sat, Feb 16 7:35 pm Pinnacle Sports
Illinois at Cincinnati Sat, Feb 16 8:00 pm Game Time
San Diego at Mexico Sun, Feb 17 4:00 pm Unisantos Park
Las Vegas at Anaheim Sun, Feb 17 7:00 pm Anaheim CCA
Phoenix at Arizona Sun, Feb 17 7:05 pm Arizona SC
All times EST
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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from February 12, 2013
- Professional Arena Soccer League Update - PASL
- Waza Flo Faces Cincinnati In First Round Of Playoffs - Waza Flo
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