San Diego Sockers Game Notes
Published on January 27, 2011 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
NEXT GAME: SOCKERS vs. TIJUANA
SOCKERS (8-2) vs. Revolucion Tijuana (5-5)
DATE: Saturday, January 29th, 2011
PLACE: Del Mar Arena
TIME: 6:15pm (PST)
BROADCAST: 619Sports.Net (live)
TV: Channel 4 San Diego (delayed, 2/2 at 8pm)
SOCKERS KEY DIVISIONAL RUN BEGINS
The San Diego Sockers open a run of five consecutive divisional games by hosting Revolucion Tijuana on Saturday night at the Del Mar Arena. This is the third of four meetings between Tijuana and San Diego, with the Sockers holding a dominant 2-0 lead, having won both contests at Furati in Tijuana. These two sides will meet again in the Sockers' next home game on February 12th.
SOCKERS GAIN IN PASL-PRO STANDINGS
While US Open games do not count toward the PASL-Pro regular season standings, the Sockers gained ground in the West last weekend thanks to out-of-town results. Tijuana lost a pair of games in the Pacific Northwest to Tacoma and Wenatchee, falling to 5-5. The Stars lost to PASL-Premier rival Kitsap the day before, their fourth loss of the season. As a result, if the Sockers win their next three games, they will clinch the Western Division title.
THE ROAD AHEAD
San Diego will travel to Tacoma to face the Stars in back-to-back games at the Tacoma Soccer Center on Friday February 4th and Saturday, February 5th. Thanks to the Sockers' 10-9 victory over Las Vegas last weekend, the second game of the back-to-back will double as the US Open Western final. The winner of that game will earn the right to host the Eastern representative in the US Open Final on March 19th.
HOME SWEET HOME: DEL MAR DOMINATION
The Sockers are a perfect 12-0 all-time in PASL-Pro regular season games at the Del Mar Arena, including a 4-0 mark this year. In addition San Diego is 2-0 in PASL-Pro playoff games at home, 4-0 in US Open contests and 2-0 in exhibitions for a combined home record of 20-0 all-time.
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: Revolucion Tijuana
SEASON: 5-5
vs. SOCKERS: 0-2
Last Meeting (1/15): Sockers 6, Revolucion 3
Revolucion comes into San Diego reeling from a season-worst three-game losing streak. Tijuana leads the PASL-Pro in goals with 103 in 10 games (10.3 per game). They are 3-2 overall away from home. The Sockers have won both games this season by an aggregate of 12-8. San Diego went 2-0 against Revolucion last season at home, winning 12-6 and 13-6.
STAR: Eduardo Velez, midfielder
Velez is an excellent playmaker and can also score from the wing with either foot. Also part of team management, Velez has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in Tijuana's first eight games (stats not yet available from last weekend). The leader of the PASL-Pro's highest scoring offense Velez is a force on the field to be reckoned with.
WATCH OUT FOR: Mario Moreno, midfielder
In addition to being a dangerous scorer (9 goals, 4 assists in 8 games) Moreno is a physical player who has already engaged in many hard tackles with the Sockers this season. Moreno took a hard shot to the jaw in San Diego's first trip to Tijuana, and responded with a number of crippling tackles in the Sockers' next trip.
SOCKERS INJURY UPDATE
Forward Aaron Susi is expected to return to the lineup after missing the past two games with an ankle sprain. Susi will test his ankle in pregame warmups before a final determination is made.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from January 27, 2011
- Tacoma Stars Weekly Preview & Review - Tacoma Stars
- Louisville Lightning Host Ohio Vortex Friday Night in PASL Play - Louisville Lightning
- San Diego Sockers Game Notes - San Diego Sockers
- Lightning News Flash - Louisville Lightning
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