San Diego Sockers & Sockers 2
December 12, 2017 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAN DIEGO - The 14-time champion San Diego Sockers used a balanced scoring attack and solid goalkeeping to defeat their playoff nemesis Sonora 8-5 before 2,233 at Valley View Casino Center. San Diego (6-0) remains undefeated early and has a three-game lead in the Pacific Division.
Sonora started the game with an early goal by Erick Rosas at 1:59.However, less than a minute later Eddie Velez tallied his first goal of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Hiram Ruiz scored off a pass from Erick Tovar to put San Diego up for good at the 5:31 mark of the first. The Sockers extended their lead to three on goals from Brian Farber and Matt Clare to end the period at 4-1. In the second period, Sonora cut the lead in half on a goal by Franck Tayou.
Both teams added two goals each in the third period. The Sockers struck for their goals in the middle of the quarter. Kraig Chiles raised his point streak to six games with a power-play goal, and Brandon Escoto found the back of the net off a helper from Ze Roberto. Chiles leads the team with 13 goals and 18 points.
Chris Toth made 15 saves during the game and several big saves in the fourth to maintain the Sockers lead. The Soles made the crowd uneasy when they scored 1:54 into the final period, but San Diego responded only 17 seconds later when Tovar notched his first goal of the game. Cesar Cerda added an empty-net goal to ice the game.
Andrew Lorei Tallies Hat Trick And Jean Antoinne Shuts Out Fury For 59 Minutes in Earning Win
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Sockers 2 (1-0) downed the Ontario Fury II in their inaugural Major Arena Soccer League 2 match at Valley View Casino Center. The rebranded Sockers Reserves team, led by player/coach Jeff Hughes, controlled the game from start to finish for the win.
Forward Andrew Lorei notched a hat trick in his first ever professional arena soccer game. The Sockers signed Lorei, the biggest talent from the 2017 MASL Player Combine, during the offseason. "The key was to get a good result and we did that," said Lorei. "We got off to a good start and my teammates made it easy to be successful."
The first-ever Sockers 2 goal was scored by forward Rafa Aguilar at the 7:06 mark. Midfielder Arman Nadjafi added two goals in the second half.
San Diego built a 9-0 lead before surrendering two Fury II goals in the final minute. For 59 minutes, it looked like goalkeeper Jean Antionne would start his career with a shutout. He made five saves on the seven shots he faced.
Player/Coach Hughes said about the team's performance, "We have a lot of potential, but we have to clean up our game. There is a lot of things to improve on, but we will take the win and move forward."
Tallies by Eli Galbraith-Knapp, Sean Callahan, and Renato Sanchez rounded out the scoring for San Diego.
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from December 12, 2017
- San Diego Sockers & Sockers 2 - San Diego Sockers
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- San Diego Sockers 2 Media Release - San Diego 2 Powers Past Ontario - San Diego Sockers
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- Blast Edge Ambush, 5-4 - Baltimore Blast
- Baltimore Wins in Final Minutes of Game - St. Louis Ambush
- Heat Cool off Ambush - St. Louis Ambush
- Mke Wave Defeat Rival Kansas City Comets. - Milwaukee Wave
- SOCKERS SQUEAK PAST STARS, 4-3. - Tacoma Stars
- Fury Unable to Withstand Blast Attack, Lose 8-5 - Ontario Fury
- Silver Knights Topple Tropics 6-5 - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Blast Defeat Fury 8-5 - Baltimore Blast
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