San Diego Sockers Game Notes, Ron Newman Cup Semi-Final vs Las Vegas
March 10, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers (17-2) vs. Las Vegas Legends (15-3)
DATE: Sunday, March 10th 2013
PLACE: Valley View Casino Center
TIME: 6:35 (PDT)
BROADCAST: ESPN Radio 1700-AM (audio) AmericaOneSports.com (online video)
Road to the Newman Cup Semi-Final
SOCKERS: Pacific Division Champion (15-1), d. Turlock 12-11 (OT), 13-4
LEGENDS: Southwest Div. Champion (13-3), d. Mexico 10-8, 10-4
BEST IN THE WEST SQUARE OFF IN SAN DIEGO
The San Diego Sockers continue their quest for a fourth consecutive PASL championship in the national semi-final of the Ron Newman Cup playoffs, taking on the Southwest Division Champion Las Vegas Legends. The winner of Sunday's semi-final will meet the Detroit-Rio Grande Valley winner in Monday's national final at 7:35pm. The game pits a Legends side that is perfect on the road (9-0) against a Sockers team that is undefeated at home (9-0).
FIELD SET FOR A CLASSIC COMPETITION
In its fifth season, the Professional Arena Soccer League has expanded to 19 teams, with some young squads quickly developing to challenge the veteran sides around the league. The result is the league's most competitive group of semi-final teams ever. The Sockers (15-1), Legends (13-3), Detroit Waza (14-2) and RGV Flash (12-4) combined for 54 wins in the PASL regular season and a perfect 8-0 record in the divisional playoff round. The field includes the league MVP and eight of the twelve players on the All-PASL first and second teams.
LAST GAME: DETROIT CLAIMS OPEN CUP 7-6
Last Saturday's U.S. Open Cup championship game saw the Detroit Waza pull out a 7-6 victory over the Sockers at the Melvindale Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Aaron Byrd's power play goal with 1:47 remaining put the winning goal on the board for the Waza.
44-0: SOCKERS UNDEFEATED AT HOME
Since returning to the professional ranks in the PASL, the San Diego Sockers have yet to lose at home. The Sockers carried over from the Del Mar Arena a 24-0 home mark in PASL play, 4-0 in PASL playoff action, 5-0 in U.S. Open Cup contests and 2-0 in exhibition friendlies for a 35-0 total home record from 2009-12. Since returning to the Valley View Casino Center, the Sockers have continued with nine wins for a 44-0 total home record. In PASL regular season action the Sockers are 32-0 at home.
RECORD-SETTING SOCKERS
A 15-1 regular season saw the Sockers set both team and individual records while dominating the PASL. San Diego set new team records for goals (188), assists (160) and points (348) while tying the PASL team record for assists in a season (Stockton, '08-09) and improving their own league record for regular season plus/minus (+117). The Sockers also set a PASL record by scoring eight short-handed goals in a season, and extended their team record with a 32-0 regular season all-time home record in league games.
CHILES WINS THIRD STRAIGHT PASL MVP
Make it an MVP hat trick for the top scorer in the history of the PASL. Kraig Chiles won his third consecutive PASL MVP award when league voting was revealed on Tuesday. Chiles set new league records for goals (56) and points (72) in the regular season, and set a playoff record with seven goals scored in a game during the first round sweep of Turlock.
FARBER, SUSI EARN ALL LEAGUE HONORS
Three Sockers were awarded with all-PASL honors this week. Midfielder Brian Farber (26 goals, 20 assists, 46 points) was named a first-team all-PASL midfielder, joining Chiles on the all-league first team. 38-year-old Sockers captain Aaron Susi set career highs for both assists and total points this season and was named to the all-PASL second team. Susi dominated the position of target forward for San Diego, finishing with 19-32-51, bettering his previous career best for points (41, Stockton '08-'09) by a full ten points. Susi particularly shined at the VVCC in the regular season, notching 28 points in seven games.
SOCKERS POWER PLAY LEADS PASL
San Diego's power play led the PASL in regular season efficiency, with 26 goals in 50 chances (52%). The Sockers have not allowed a short-handed goal. SD is 28-for-38 killing power plays (73.7%) with a record eight short-handers. In the playoffs the Sockers are 9 for 12 (75%) for, 4 for 11 (64%) against.
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
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 (8-1, 4.85 GAA) had three points, with a goal and two assists. Riley continued his offensive-minded performances in the opening leg of the Turlock playoff series, recording a career-best three assists in San Diego's 12-11 win.
FARBER SETS RECORD FOR SHORTIES
Sockers all-PASL midfielder Brian Farber set a new personal best in San Diego with 46 points this season (26-20-46), but his knack for scoring short-handed was the best in league history. Farber scored a record five "shorties" this year, including two short-handed goals in 11 seconds in a 10-3 win over Harrisburg on January 25th. Farber had two short-handed goals in last Sunday's regular season ending 15-9 win over Toros de Mexico, a game which featured a team and league record four shorties for SD.
SOCKERS MAGIC? LATE GOALS A TRENDING TOPIC
The Sockers have made a habit all season 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 32 goals in the final two minutes of a quarter, half or game, and 19 goals in the final minute of a quarter, half or game.
INJURY/LINEUP UPDATE
The Sockers will make a game-time decision on their starting goalkeeper (Riley Swift or Chris Toth). Paul Wright (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's contest.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: SOCKERS vs. LEGENDS
Sockers
(regular season)
Legends
15-1
Record
13-3
1-0 (6-5 win)
Head-to-Head
0-1
188 (1st)
Goals
174 (2nd)
71 (T-3rd)
Goals Against
81 (6th)
8-0/7-1
Home/Road
5-3/8-0
26-50, 52% (1st)
Power Play
25-61, 41% (4th)
10-38, 74% (6th)
Penalty Kill
23-52, 56% (15th)
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: LAS VEGAS LEGENDS (13-3)
The expansion Legends are setting their sights on winning the Ron Newman Cup championship in their opening campaign, led by a head coach (Greg Howes) with years of indoor experience and a core group of veterans. The Legends easily captured the Southwest Division title by six games over Toros de Mexico and then beat the Tijuana side 10-8 and 10-4 to advance to the Newman Cup semi-finals. Leading the way for Las Vegas is second-team all-PASL forward Enrique Tovar, who finished second in the league in points (24-33-57) and set a new single-season assists record with 33. The Legends activated midfielder Nelson Santana, formerly of the PASL Stockton Cougars and MISL Syracuse Silver Knights, and he will be in the starting fourteen against San Diego. Midfielder Ricardinho (22-28-50) finished tied for fourth in the PASL in points, while defender Eric Guzman (14-18-32) won first-team all-PASL defensive honors.
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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from March 10, 2013
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- San Diego Sockers Game Notes, Ron Newman Cup Semi-Final vs Las Vegas - San Diego Sockers
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