PASL San Diego Sockers

San Diego Sockers Game Notes at Mexico

Published on February 17, 2013 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release


San Diego Sockers (14-1) at Toros de Mexico (7-8)

DATE: Sunday, February 17th, 2013

PLACE: Unisantos Park, Tijuana MX

TIME: 1:05pm (PDT)

BROADCAST: SDSockers.com (audio)

For up-to-date PASL standings please visit paslsoccer.com

SOCKERS AND TOROS TUNE UP FOR PLAYOFFS

The San Diego Sockers, having already clinched the best record in the Professional Arena Soccer League and the top seed in the upcoming Ron Newman Cup championships, close out the regular season by visiting Unisantos Park in Tijuana for the first time, taking on Toros de Mexico. Both the Sockers and Toros have already cinched up their playoff hopes, as Mexico will face Las Vegas in the Southwestern Division playoff round. The Sockers will take on the Turlock Express in the Pacific Division playoff round starting on Saturday.

CHILES SETS GOALS, POINTS RECORDS IN PASL

The records all belong to him, now the only question is where he sets the final numbers. Back-to-back PASL MVP striker Kraig Chiles had a five goal, four assist performance in a 16-2 victory over the Arizona Storm last Sunday, increasing his single-season PASL goals record (54) while setting a new league record for points in a season (70). Chiles has ten hat tricks or better this season in 15 games, including a four-goal game, three five-goal games, two six-goal games and a career-best eight-goal game against the Toros on November 23rd.

ASSISTS TITLE, LEAGUE RECORD ON THE LINE

Sockers captain Aaron Susi has already set a personal career high for points in a season (46), and with one game to go Susi has also set the PASL record for assists in a season (29). However, Las Vegas forward Enrique Tovar is right on heels of the "Dime Doctor" with 28 assists. Both forwards play their final game of the season today. Tovar will have the advantage of starting later, a 4pm kickoff in Anaheim, and thus knowing how many assists he will need to break Susi's mark.

LAST GAME: SOCKERS 16, ARIZONA STORM 2

A crowd of 4,703 on Fan Appreciation Night at the Valley View Casino Center saw a nine-point game from Kraig Chiles in an easy victory over Arizona. Aaron Susi had a goal and five assists and Brian Farber added two goals for San Diego (14-1).

TROUBLES IN TIJUANA: CLOSE GAME TODAY?

For all of their tremendous success since joining the PASL in 2009, one road venue has consistently provided a challenge to the Sockers, their annual trip to Tijuana. In past seasons, games played across the border have regularly come down to the wire. While the Sockers have beaten the team from Tijuana (formerly called Revolucion) nine straight times and own a 4-1 record in Mexico, three of their four victories in Tijuana have come in overtime and all five games were tied in the fourth quarter. The Sockers have never scored more than six goals in a game on the smaller playing surface in Tijuana. This will be the Sockers' first game at Unisantos Park, having previously played Revolucion Tijuana at Estadio Furati.

THE STREAK IS OVER, LONG LIVE THE STREAK

It took 48 games, 25 months and extra time to finally end the longest winning streak in the history of U.S. professional team sports. The Sockers' 48-game winning streak stretched from December 29th, 2010 to January 27th, 2013 and was bracketed by overtime road losses, 9-8 to the California Cougars on December 27th 2010 and 6-5 to the Dallas Sidekicks on January 27th, 2013. Along the way, the Sockers broke the previous team mark of 40 straight wins, set by the Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football. The record streak included all "trophy games", defined as PASL regular and postseason, 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, 2010-2013): 48

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

DOMINANT DEFENSE A SOCKERS STANDARD

The Sockers lead the league in scoring with 173 goals in fifteen games, but the team's defense is an often-overlooked element of their dominant success. San Diego has gone 37 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 1/2 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 4.13 goals allowed per game, and their 62 goals allowed is second only to Dallas (57) in the league.

EXTRA ROUND OF PASL PLAYOFFS IN 2012-13

Thanks to expansion and the continued growth of the PASL, there will be an additional round of playoffs this season. Each division will pair off its top two teams in a two-leg playoff in late February and early March. The Sockers will face the Turlock Express in this quarterfinal round. The opening leg of the quarterfinal will be played on February 23rd at the Valley View Casino Center as part of a doubleheader with the Southwest Division playoff between Mexico and Las Vegas. All four teams will relocate to the Orleans Arena in Vegas on February 24th for their second game. If teams split the two playoff games, a 15-minute mini-game will immediately follow Game Two to determine the series winner.

WHO SAYS GOALIES CAN'T SCORE?

It's one of the rarest feats you'll see in soccer, but a goalkeeper can score a goal. The Sockers' Riley Swift proved the point on February 1st against the Dallas Sidekicks, putting a kick directly on goal against his opposing keeper Sagu in the fourth quarter. When Sagu bobbled the high shot and saw it drop over the line, Swift had his first goal in any soccer game, pro or amateur, outdoor or indoor. Swift also stopped a penalty kick shootout by Dallas forward Jamie Lovegrove in the dramatic 5-4 victory. On the season Swift (7-1, 4.36 GAA) has three points, with a goal and two assists.

"EL VAQUERO" A MODEL OF CONSISTENCY

Sockers midfielder/defender Eduardo Velez is fulfilling expectations in his second season with San Diego, lighting up the scoreboard while shutting down opposing strikers. Velez has averaged exactly one goal and two points per game throughout the 2012-13 PASL season, with 15 goals and 15 assists (30 points) in 15 games. In addition, the physical Velez leads the Sockers in fouls (21), blocked shots (13), penalty minutes (8) and his four power-play goals rank third on the team behind Chiles and midfielder Chiky Luna.

SOCKERS POWER PLAY LEADS PASL

San Diego's power play leads the PASL in efficiency, with 25 goals in 45 chances (55.6%). Detroit ranks second at 52% (27-for-52). The Sockers have not allowed a short-handed goal. SD is 25-for-33 killing power plays (75.7%) with four short-handers.

SOCKERS MAGIC? LATE GOALS A TRENDING TOPIC

The Sockers are making a recent habit of finishing quarters, halves and games in dramatic fashion. Eduardo Velez stunned Dallas on 2/1 with his game-winning goal in the final second of regulation for a 5-4 win, moments after Ze Roberto had tied the game with 41 seconds remaining. In Dallas on 1/27, Kraig Chiles tied the score at 5-5 with 6.7 seconds remaining on the regulation clock. In Las Vegas, Brian Farber's header goal with 2.2 seconds left gave the Sockers a 6-5 win. On the season the Sockers have scored 29 goals in the final two minutes of a quarter, half or game, and 18 goals in the final minute of a quarter, half or game.

INJURY UPDATE

The Sockers are expected to travel a significantly different lineup than normal to Mexico, resting several veterans in advance of the playoffs. Midfielder Paul Wright and defender Scotty Martin will definitely not suit up for San Diego, while midfielders Brian Farber and Eduardo Velez will be day-of-game decisions. The team is considering promoting defender Johnny Topete from the Sockers Reserves for today's game; if selected he would wear jersey #21.

OPPONENT'S PROFILE: TOROS de MEXICO (7-8)

The Toros have claimed a playoff berth for the second consecutive season, their last coming under the previous team name of Revolucion Tijuana. Head coach Joe Pollard's team is 5-2 at home but 2-6 on the road. The Toros are on a two-game losing streak, dropping a 6-5 decision to Tacoma before losing to Rio Grande Valley 6-2. Top goal scorer Jose Juan Caballero is not in Pollard's starting lineup for Sunday's game. Veteran midfielder Guillermo Rodriguez will be the top scorer on the field for the Toros, with 16 goals and 18 points in 9 games played. Goalkeeper Maico Lopez is 6-5 with a 6.92 GAA.

Check out the San Diego Sockers Statistics

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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from February 17, 2013


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