San Diego Sockers Game Notes: U.S. Open Cup Championship vs. Detroit
March 2, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers (17-1) vs. Detroit Waza (16-2)
DATE: Saturday, March 2nd, 2013
PLACE: Melvindale Arena, Detroit, MI
TIME: 4:35pm (PDT)
BROADCAST: ESPN Radio 1700-AM (audio)
Golivesoccer.com (online video)
Road to the Open Cup Final
SOCKERS: d. Arizona 18-3, d. Anaheim 14-3, d. Turlock 11-7, d. Vegas 6-5
WAZA: First Round Bye, d. Ohio 13-3, d. Harrisburg 8-4, d. Chicago 9-6
SOCKERS AND WAZA REMATCH FOR OPEN CUP
The San Diego Sockers make their first trip in PASL action to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Waza in the championship game of the U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer. This is the second meeting ever between the Waza and the Sockers, with the first coming in last season's Ron Newman Cup championship final, a 10-7 San Diego victory. Both teams have also advanced to next weekend's Ron Newman Cup semi-finals in San Diego and could potentially rematch in the championship final again.
WHAT IS THE U.S. OPEN CUP FOR ARENA SOCCER?
The U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer is a single-elimination tournament run concurrent to the PASL regular season. PASL teams have selected games during the regular season count toward both the league and the Open Cup. The Sockers have won all three Open Cup competitions in which they have entered, beating Louisville and Cincinnati (twice) in the final. Detroit is making their second appearance in the Open Cup final, having lost to the St. Louis Illusion 8-3 in the 2008-09 final.
LAST GAME: SOCKERS ADVANCE TO PASL SEMIS
It wasn't easy, but the Sockers managed to outlast then overwhelm the Turlock Express in the Pacific Division playoff 12-11 (OT) and 13-4. Saturday's playoff opener saw San Diego squander an 8-3 second half lead, securing the win on Kraig Chiles' set piece goal from Aaron Susi with 8:31 remaining in golden goal overtime. Chiles set a playoff record with seven goals scored during San Diego's 13-4 win in the second leg.
PLAYOFF MATCHUPS DETERMINED
The Sockers will face the Southwest Division champion Las Vegas Legends on March 10th in the semis, while the Eastern Division champion Detroit Waza will face the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Flash, who upset Dallas 5-4 (OT) and 8-5 in the Central Division playoff. The Waza-Flash game (4pm) will precede the Sockers and Legends (6:30pm). The two semifinal winners will square off March 11th at 7:35pm to play for the Newman Cup.
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 obliterating 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 SHATTERS LEAGUE MARKS; MVP X3?
Top forward Kraig Chiles continues to better his performance season by season, making it tough for anyone else in the PASL to win MVP. The back-to-back honoree set new career and league bests for goals (56) and points (72) in 2012-13. Chiles leads the league in playoff goals (10) and points (11) as well, and his seven goal game against Turlock set a new single-game playoff record.
CAREER-BEST YEAR FOR AARON SUSI
38-year-old Sockers captain Aaron Susi set career highs for both assists and total points this season. 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. He finished third in the PASL in scoring, and set a new league record with 32 assists, only to see Las Vegas' Enrique Tovar pass him with a five-assist game (and 33 total helpers) on the last day of the season. Susi particularly shined at the VVCC in the regular season, notching 28 points in seven games. In the playoffs Susi has continued his excellence, netting five goals and four assists (nine points), third best in the PASL.
SOCKERS POWER PLAY LEADS PASL
San Diego's power play led the PASL in efficiency, with 26 goals in 50 chances (52%). Detroit ranks second at 51.9% (27-for-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.
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
Outside of a season-long injury to midfielder Majell Aterado (ACL), the Sockers have a clean injury report heading into the U.S. Open Cup. Mike Mercurali was selected for back line defense, and San Diego traveled both goalkeepers (Swift and Chris Toth) for the game.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: SOCKERS vs. WAZA
Sockers
(regular season)
Waza
15-1
Record
14-2
1st meeting '12-13
Head-to-Head
1st meeting '12-13
188 (1st)
Goals
162 (3rd)
71 (T-3rd)
Goals Against
80 (5th)
8-0/7-1
Home/Road
8-0/6-2
26-50, 52% (1st)
Power Play
27-52, 51.9% (2nd)
10-38, 74% (6th)
Penalty Kill
11-57, 81% (2nd)
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: DETROIT WAZA (14-2)
The two-time defending Eastern Division champion Detroit Waza play host to the Sockers for the first time, seeking revenge for last year's 10-7 loss in the Ron Newman Cup championship. The Waza had their best season under head coach/player/owner Dominic Scicluna, finishing 14-2 including a perfect 8-0 record at home. Detroit advanced to the Ron Newman Cup semifinals by sweeping Cincinnati in the Eastern Division playoff 9-4 and 6-5. Veterans Miki Djerisilo (15-19-34) and Costea Decu (23-5-28) lead a balanced Detroit offense. Ten different Waza players have scored at least eight goals during the regular season. Rookie goalkeeper Joe Kapinos (13-1, 4.63 GAA, 75% save percentage) has shined in helping Detroit to the 5th lowest goals allowed in the PASL. Detroit led the league with 27 power play goals.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from March 2, 2013
- U.S. Open Cup Championship: Detroit's Late Goal Beats San Diego 7-6 - San Diego Sockers
- San Diego Sockers Game Notes: U.S. Open Cup Championship vs. Detroit - San Diego Sockers
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