San Diego Sockers Game Notes vs. Sacramento Surge
January 3, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
Sacramento Surge (2-8) vs. San Diego Sockers (6-3)
DATE: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
PLACE: Valley View Casino Center
TIME: 7:05pm PST
BROADCAST: GoLiveSportsCast (video)
ESPN Radio 1700-AM (radio-tape delayed 10pm)
PLEASE CHECK MASLSOCCER.COM FOR UP-TO-DATE STANDINGS
SOCKERS OPEN HOMESTAND AGAINST SURGE
The San Diego Sockers (6-3) begin a two-game homestand over the next two weekends with their first of three contests this season against the Sacramento Surge (2-8). The Sockers are on a rare two-game losing streak after dropping back-to-back games last weekend in Missouri and St. Louis. It's the first time the Sockers have dropped two straight since opening the 2013-14 season 0-2 with losses to Dallas and Monterrey. The Surge has won two of their past three after an 0-7 start including a 13-5 win over Turlock. Their last game was an 8-7 squeaker loss to Ontario.
LAST GAME: AMBUSH 8, SOCKERS 3
The Sockers fell behind 4-2 after one quarter in St. Louis and could never recover, eventually dropping an 8-3 decision in front of 6,574 fans at Family Arena. It was the first five-goal loss in six seasons since the Sockers returned to action in 2009 and tied their fewest goals scored in a game (at Calgary '09, vs. Dallas '13). Ambush goalkeeper Greg Crook was named to the all-MASL team for Week Nine after saving nineteen shots, while the St. Louis defense was credited with eighteen blocks. Kraig Chiles scored his nineteenth goal of the season and Chiky Luna added a pair of assists in the losing cause for San Diego.
CHILES HOPES TO CONTINUE GOALS SURGE
Sockers captain Kraig Chiles has recorded at least one goal in every game this season but has really turned it on over the past three, netting ten times. A six-goal game against the Seattle Impact was followed by a hat trick in Missouri and a power play goal in St. Louis. His season total of 19 goals ranks fifth in the MASL and his 24 points are tied for eighth. In addition, according to MASL/PASL Stats, Chiles has recorded at least one point in 54 consecutive matches dating back to November 19th, 2011 when he was held pointless in a 7-6 OT win against the Anaheim Bolts.
SPECTACULAR DEBUT FOR "NEY"
A rookie out of first-division Brazilian professional futsal, Mardney Almeida "Ney" Felix has taken the MASL by storm in his first two games of pro indoor soccer. After recording a hat trick with two assists in San Diego's 17-10 win over Seattle, Ney continued his tear with two goals and an assist in three quarters of the Sockers-Comets contest, before taking a hard kick to the ankle in the fourth quarter. Ney was forced to miss the St. Louis contest and is officially listed as questionable for tonight's game, although he has returned to partial training. A decision on Ney's availability tonight may be made in warmups.
PERERA PACES SOCKERS IN POINTS
Sockers forward Nick Perera continues a breakout campaign in his first year back wearing the Sockers shield. After three seasons with Milwaukee Wave in the MISL, Perera has returned to the team he played for at the start of his indoor career in 2010-11, and he leads San Diego in points (28) and assists (15). His 28 points rank seventh in the MASL in scoring, and his 15 assists are third best in the league. Nick scored one goal in the Sockers' 8-3 loss to St. Louis, ending a streak of eight straight multi-point games to start the season. Perera is the captain of the U.S. Beach Soccer National Team and has been selected to play in four consecutive years. He is currently four points away from setting a career high for points in a season (31-Wave '13-'14 *converted from MPS to SPS).
SALVAGIO ON APPROACH FOR 100 WINS
Sockers head coach Phil Salvagio enters tonight's contest with an all-time record of 96-14 on the San Diego bench. His mark includes the U.S. professional record for a team sports winning streak (48 consecutive wins, 2010-13), and is an "all contests" record including U.S. Open Cup, FIFRA Championship and PASL playoff victories. Salvagio was a two-time Coach of the Year in the PASL (2011-13).
LUNA GIVING BIG ASSIST IN MIDFIELD
Sockers veteran midfielder Chiky Luna has been a fixture on power play and free kicks for years in San Diego, and of late Chiky has been hot with the helping touch. Luna has garnered seven assists over the Sockers' past three games, including a season-high four-assist effort against Seattle and two more in St. Louis. With eleven assists on the season (and one goal for twelve points), Chiky ranks 10th in the MASL in helpers and is on pace for career-best numbers in the category. Luna's career high for assists is 14, set in the 2012-13 season, when Chiky finished with a career-best 26 points.
HOME HAS BEEN HEARTY FOR SOCKERS
It's not unusual to expect the Sockers to win at home. The team went their first 46 games at home without a loss after returning to action in 2009, and the Sockers hold an all-time home record of 57-3 at the Del Mar Arena and Valley View Casino Center in this current franchise iteration. This season San Diego is 5-0 at home and 1-3 on the road and the differences defensively have been startling. In home games this year the Sockers have allowed an average of 4.4 goals per game (22 allowed in 5 contests) while on the road the team concedes 7.75 goals per game (31 allowed in 4 contests).
ADD AN ASSIST TO HUGHES
In his second season wearing the Sockers shield, midfielder Jeff Hughes is healthy and again producing at a high level. The 2009-10 PASL MVP had an assist added in a scoring correction to the Sockers' 8-3 loss in St. Louis, pushing his season totals to eleven points in nine games (six goals, five assists). Hughes has a four-game point-scoring streak.
SOUTH AMERICAN FLAIR TO SD ROSTER
The Sockers have a different look this season with a trio of new players hailing from not only south of the border, but south of the Mexican and Ecuadorian borders as well. In addition to Ney, fellow Brazilian Gustavo Machado "Guto" Quieroga made his debut in the Sockers' 10-7 loss to Missouri. 22-year-old Argentine rookie Matias Kruger has been with the team all season and ranks tied for fourth on the team with twelve points.
SOCKERS ON THE RADIO AND WEB
Saturday's game and all 20 regular season MASL Sockers games will be carried live on ESPN Radio 1700-AM in San Diego. Audio streaming is available at www.espnradio1700.com. In addition, every MASL game has video streaming live on GoLiveSportsCast.com, including all Sockers games. Aaron Susi joins Craig Elsten for all home broadcasts.
FARBER PLACED ON INJURED LIST
All-league midfielder Brian Farber will be sorely missed on the pitch tonight, as San Diego will be without their speediest midfielder and one of the game's fiercest competitors. Farber was placed on the Sockers' injury list retroactive to December 6th with a knee injury. Brian aggravated his knee against the Las Vegas Legends on November 23rd and has been unable to play since.
THEY AREN'T CALLED "AVERAGE TEAMS"
The Sockers have struggled for the better part of two seasons now with their special teams play and have been persistently average this year. On the season the Sockers have converted on 9-of-22 power play opportunities, 13th best in the 22-team MASL. Despite a solid effort in Missouri, penalty killing remains problematic as well, with nine power play goals allowed in 19 penalties against, a 52.6% kill rate that ranks 14th in the MASL.
MASL NOTES
- The Pacific Division is the tightest it has ever been at the virtual halfway point. The top four teams in the division are separated by a total of 1.5 games in the standings. One game separates first from third place and the Sockers are only ahead of Ontario by virtue of percentage points and a head-to-head win. The top three teams in the division reach the MASL playoffs.
- Several recent signings have strengthened various Pacific Division sides. The Seattle Impact inked attacker Jamar Beasley, while the Turlock Express recently acquired Brazilian midfielder Junior Alancar.
- The Missouri Comets remained undefeated (10-0) with a controversial 8-7 shootout win against Milwaukee on New Year's Eve. The Wave looked to have the game won on a last-second chip in overtime before it was intentionally handballed out of goal by Comets defender John Sosa. Keeper Danny Waltman stopped the ensuing penalty shootout to force team shootouts, where Missouri prevailed 2-1.
OPPONENT PROFILE: SACRAMENTO SURGE (2-8)
In their third season of operation the Surge finally seem to be holding a steady pulse, winning two of their past three games and almost beating Ontario for a third straight win. After an 0-7 start the Surge have outscored their opponents collectively 28-20 over the past three games. Former Kansas Magic striker Matt Germain leads the Surge with 14 points (9/5/14) while Selvin Bonilla is the team's goals leader (10/2/12). Forward Cole Alexander scored five goals during the recent Surge two-game winning streak. Jon Hunt is a brand-new keeper signed for today's game.
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