San Diego Sockers Game Notes at Harrisburg
January 25, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers (10-0) at Harrisburg Heat (4-7)
DATE: Friday, January 25th, 2013
PLACE: Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
TIME: 4:05pm (PDT)
BROADCAST: ESPN Radio 1700 (audio)
AmericaOne (PPV video)
(for up-to-date PASL standings please visit paslsoccer.com)
SOCKERS OPEN KEY ROAD TRIP AGAINST HEAT
The San Diego Sockers continue their longest road trip of the season with their first meeting against the reconstituted Harrisburg Heat. A stalwart indoor side from 1991-2003, the Heat restarted their franchise in the PASL this season and have fashioned a 4-7 record so far including a 3-3 mark at the Farm Show Complex, their home field. San Diego clinched their fourth consecutive Pacific Division title with their last victory, a 6-5 win over Las Vegas. The Sockers will continue on to face the Dallas Sidekicks as the road trip closes out on Sunday.
THE STREAK: 47-GAME WIN STREAK ON THE LINE
A win streak that dates back to December 29th, 2010 now stands as the longest in U.S. professional team sports history. The San Diego Sockers have won 45 consecutive games, including a 14-4 victory over Toros de Mexico on November 23rd, 2012 to set the record mark of 41, passing the Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football. San Diego's record streak includes all "trophy games", defined as PASL regular and postseason games, 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-present): 47*
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
LAST GAME: SOCKERS 6, AT LAS VEGAS 5
Brian Farber's header goal with 2.2 seconds remaining in regulation gave the Sockers a thrilling 6-5 win over the Las Vegas Legends at the Orleans Arena. Farber led the Sockers with two goals and two assists. Aaron Susi, Kraig Chiles, Raymundo Reza and Chiky Luna also scored for San Diego (10-0).
IN CASE YOU LIKE STREAKS, HERE ARE SOME MORE
The Sockers enter this game with the following streaks intact:
- 47 consecutive overall victories
- 41 consecutive home wins
- 34 consecutive PASL regular season wins
- 19 straight road wins
- 6 straight PASL playoff victories
FARBER NAMED PASL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sockers midfielder Brian Farber was honored as PASL Player of the Week after his heroic efforts on the pitch helped extend the Sockers' record winning streak last Friday in Vegas. With two goals and two assists (including the game-winner with 2.2 seconds remaining), Farber increased his season totals to 17 goals and 17 assists (34 points), the 6th best point total in the PASL. Farber has recorded a point in all ten games this year and sixteen straight dating back to last season. The Sockers have never lost (30-0) with Farber in the starting lineup.
CHILES HONORED AS STAR OF THE YEAR 2012
San Diego Sockers forward Kraig Chiles is one of fifteen amateur or professional athletes honored with a 2012 Star of the Year designation by the San Diego Hall of Champions for exemplary athletic performance in the city of San Diego. Chiles will be honored at the Hall's annual Salute to Champions banquet on February 25th at the Town and Country hotel.
ROAD WARRIORS: ANOTHER SOCKERS STREAK
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Sockers' win streak is their dominance on the road, having captured 19 straight wins in away venues. While games played in Mexico have offered stern tests, in the U.S. the closest PASL contest during the streak was waged last Friday, when the Sockers eked out a 6-5 win in Las Vegas. San Diego has outscored their opponents 42-17 in four road games so far this season.
DOMINANT DEFENSE A SOCKERS STANDARD
The Sockers lead the league in scoring with 127 goals in ten games, but the team's defense is an often-overlooked element of their dominant success. San Diego has gone 32 straight games without allowing ten goals in a game. In fact, the Sockers have only allowed ten goals in a game three times in 3 ½ seasons of PASL action, and San Diego has never allowed eleven or more goals in a game. Interestingly enough, the Sockers are 3-0 when allowing ten goals in a game all-time. On the season San Diego averages 4.10 goals allowed per game.
CHILES LEADS PASL IN GOALS, POINTS
Back-to-back PASL MVP Kraig Chiles is well on his way to a third consecutive honor, leading the PASL in points (50) and goals (39) through ten games. Chiles recorded a goal and two assists in the Sockers' 6-5 win over Las Vegas, netting the equalizer in the third quarter before recording the assist on Brian Farber's game-winner in the fourth. Despite facing regular double team defense, Chiles is on pace to break his own league record for goals (46) and the PASL record for points (68).
TOTH, SWIFT TO ALTERNATE STARTS ON TRIP
Whether it's Riley Swift or Chris Toth in goal, the Sockers know they have the best goalie in the PASL starting for them on any given night. Swift, a two-time PASL playoff MVP, is 5-0 on the season with a 4.33 GAA. Chris Toth is 4-0 alternating starts with Swift, and possesses a 3.75 GAA. The Sockers' tenth goalie win was recorded by Eduardo Velez, who was on field as a sixth attacker against Las Vegas for the game-winning tally. Toth, who has never lost in 11 PASL starts with the Sockers, will start Friday against Harrisburg while Swift will man goal Sunday in Dallas.
THE LONE STREAKIN' MOHICAN: ANTHONY MEDINA
Midfielder/forward Anthony Medina has a unique distinction of being the only Sockers player to appear in all 46 consecutive wins. While all players succumb to injury at some point, Anthony's timing has been excellent, as he suffered a broken foot in the final game of the Sockers' 2010-11 season and was able to return just in time for 2011-12's season opener. Medina is more than just a footnote, having already set a new career high with 12 assists this season, adding six goals for 18 points in nine games. Ze Roberto and Eric Wunderle played in the Sockers' first 37 wins of the streak.
SOCKERS SPECIAL TEAMS LEAD THE PASL
San Diego's twenty power play goals and 20 for 32 power play conversion (62.5%) lead the PASL (league average is 35.2%). Kraig Chiles (six) and Chiky Luna (four) lead the Sockers in power play goals. The Sockers are also strong on penalty kill, having killed off 16 of 22 man advantages against (72.7%, 5th in PASL) while scoring a short-handed goal.
SOCKERS GAMES BROADCAST ON AMERICAONE, ESPN RADIO 1700 AND SDSOCKERS.COM IN 2012-13
Fans will be able to follow the San Diego Sockers through every game of the 2012-13 season on multiple media platforms. The Sockers agreed to carry a select schedule of 8-11 games on ESPN Radio 1700-AM in San Diego for the second consecutive season. In addition, an audio broadcast of every game will be streamed online at sdsockers.com. Finally, the PASL contracted with AmericaOne Sports as the official provider of online video streaming in 2012-13. Fans will be able to purchase broadcasts by pay-per-view at $8 per game or $90 for a season pass that covers all PASL broadcasts league-wide. Craig Elsten will call the Sockers action across all platforms for the fourth consecutive season, joined by Tim Strombel as a sideline reporter for home games.
SOCKERS BACK IN U.S. OPEN CUP FINAL
Friday's win over the Las Vegas Legends also served as the Western Final of the U.S. Open Cup championship for 2012-13. The Sockers will face either the Detroit Waza or Chicago Mustangs in the championship game. Detroit and Chicago play on Sunday to determine who will be the Eastern host of the final.
INJURY/SUSPENSION UPDATE
A red card assessed during the Sockers' victory over Las Vegas will force defender Antonio Sutton to sit out Friday's game against Harrisburg, with Mike Mercuriali replacing Sutton in the starting lineup. Defender John Krause has left the Sockers for a lucrative job on the East Coast and is not expected to play again this season.
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: HARRISBURG HEAT (4-7)
The expansion Heat is coached by Richard Chinapoo, an indoor fixture in Harrisburg who scored 101 goals as a player from 1992-2000 with the Heat. Harrisburg averages 6.7 goals for and 6.2 goals against. Tom Mellor and Tyler Witmer lead the Heat in scoring (14-10-24 each), while Brian Ombiji (10-13-23) leads the team in assists. Goalkeeper Dave Kern boasts a 5.22 GAA and 69% save percentage. The Heat earned a signature win for the season last weekend, beating Eastern leaders Detroit 10-6.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from January 25, 2013
- Farber's hat trick leads Sockers to 10-3 win in Harrisburg - San Diego Sockers
- Sidekicks Look To Make History, Snap San Diego's National Record 47-Game Winning Streak - San Diego Sockers
- San Diego Sockers Game Notes at Harrisburg - San Diego Sockers
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