San Diego Sockers Game Notes
December 1, 2012 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
STREAKING SOCKERS TRAVEL TO TACOMA
San Diego Sockers (4-0) at Tacoma Stars (1-1)
DATE: Saturday, December 1st, 2012
PLACE: Pacific Sports Center, Tacoma WA
TIME: 7:35pm (PDT)
BROADCAST: SDSockers.com (audio)
PASL Pacific Division Standings: please visit paslsoccer.com for updated standings
SOCKERS HIT THE ROAD TO FACE RIVAL TACOMA
The San Diego Sockers travel to the Pacific Sports Center in Tacoma to take on their PASL Pacific Division rivals the Tacoma Stars. While the Sockers-Stars rivalry dates back to classic MISL playoff battles in the mid-'80s, the PASL version of this matchup has been one-sided, with the Sockers winning all seven games, including a 4-0 mark in Tacoma, outscoring the Stars 42-15. San Diego's record start includes 58 total goals and a +44 goal differential, both easily pacing the PASL.
THE STREAK: 41-GAME WIN STREAK ON THE LINE
A win streak that dates back to December 29th, 2010 now stands as the longest in US professional team sports history. The San Diego Sockers have won 41 consecutive games, including a 14-4 victory over Toros de Mexico on November 23rd, 2012 to set the record mark of 41, passing the Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football. San Diego's record streak includes all "trophy games", defined as PASL regular and postseason games, US Open elimination contests and the 2012 FIFRA Club Championships in Monterrey.
LONGEST US PRO SPORTS TEAM WIN STREAKS
San Diego Sockers (PASL, 2010-present): 41*
Sioux Falls Storm (UIF, 2005-2008): 40
L.A. Lakers (NBA, 1971-72): 33
Washington Kastles (WTT, 2011-present): 32*
Salt Lake City Trappers (MILB): 29
*=active streak
LAST GAME: SOCKERS TAME TOROS 14-4
In front of a PASL-Sockers record crowd of 4,134 at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, the Sockers set the US pro sports winning streak record in emphatic fashion, hammering the Toros de Mexico 14-4. Back-to-back PASL MVP Kraig Chiles set a new career-high with eight goals scored, one short of the league record. Eduardo Velez added a hat trick as the Sockers won their 41st consecutive game.
IN CASE YOU LIKE STREAKS, HERE ARE SOME MORE
The Sockers enter this game with the following streaks intact:
- 41 consecutive overall victories
- 38 consecutive home wins
- 28 consecutive PASL regular season wins
- 16 straight road wins
- 6 straight PASL playoff victories
CHILES BURNING UP THE NETS
It's safe to say the MVP is on fire right now, and the PASL is feeling the heat. Kraig Chiles' career-best eight goal performance against Mexico lifted the two-time MVP to 19 goals in just four games, leading the PASL by nine goals. In another career best, Chiles has netted 14 goals in the past two games. During the Sockers 41-game winning streak, Chiles has been held to one goal just eight times, and has been shut out only twice. He missed four games due to injury (three in the FIFRA Club Championships) and has scored a total of 105 goals in the 37 games he has played during "the streak", including eight four-goal games, two five-goal games, a six-goal, seven-goal and eight-goal game.
FAST FARBER LEADS PASL IN ASSISTS
All-PASL midfielder and 2008-09 PASL MVP Brian Farber is off to the best start of his career, leading the PASL in assists (12) and standing second only two points behind Chiles in total points (20). The MVPs have hooked up on multiple occasions, as seven of Farber's assists have set up a Chiles goal.
EL VAQUERO RIDING HIGH
Two seasons ago, Eduardo "El Vaquero" Velez led the PASL in points as a high-scoring forward for Revolucion Tijuana. Since coming to the Sockers in 2010-11, Velez has been asked to play a more defensive role, but his offense is coming around in his second season in blue and gold. Velez ranks tied for third on the Sockers in goals (6) and fourth in points (10) through four games.
DOC SIZZLE: SUSI OFF TO AMAZING START
The Sockers overall offensive outburst can be traced through the leadership of their team captain and top target forward Aaron Susi. Off to a career-best start during his time in the PASL, Susi has already recorded a five-point game, and is third on the Sockers in both goals (6) and assists (6). His 4.00 points per game is better than any non-Socker in the PASL and trails only Kraig Chiles (5.50 PPG) and Farber (5.00 PPG) in the league.
THE LONE STREAKIN' MOHICAN: ANTHONY MEDINA
Midfielder/forward Anthony Medina has a unique distinction of being the only Sockers player to appear in all 41 consecutive wins. While all players succumb to injury at some point, Anthony's timing has been excellent, as he suffered a broken foot in the final game of the Sockers 2010-11 season and was able to return just in time for 2011-12's season opener. Medina also suffered a broken nose later in the streak against Las Vegas in the US Open and played the next game wearing a facial shield. Ze Roberto and Eric Wunderle played in the Sockers first 37 wins of the streak.
AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER IF YOU'RE PAUL WRIGHT
At age 43, midfielder Paul Wright is playing like he's always played, and that's saying something. Paul had a four-point game in the Sockers 11-5 win over Real Phoenix, scoring two goals with two assists, and has six points in two games this season. Wright was part of both of the Sockers first two PASL championship teams before departing for Anaheim on a one-year detour. "P-3" is the only player in Sockers history to have played for both a MISL and PASL championship team in San Diego, his career dating back to the 1989-90 season. He returns to the lineup in Tacoma after missing two games on a personal trip to England.
ROAD WARRIORS: ANOTHER SOCKERS STREAK
Sixteen straight times when the San Diego Sockers have shown up as the visiting team, the home crowd has left without the satisfaction of seeing their side win. This remarkable road dominance is amplified when you take away four games played in Mexico, where San Diego has had to battle for their wins. In twelve road games played on American soil during the Sockers 41-game winning streak, only the Las Vegas Knights stayed within one goal of the Sockers, losing 10-9 on January 21st, 2011. Two other teams stayed within four goals (Anaheim lost 10-6 on 11/12/11, Turlock lost 8-4 on 2/24/12), and the aggregate score of the other eight games in the win streak was 101-36 in favor of the Sockers. (Note: Sockers games played during the FIFRA Club Championships against Canada and Ecuador in Monterrey were considered neutral-site games.)
POWER PLAY POWERFUL FOR SAN DIEGO
The Sockers have started the 2012-13 season on a tear with their special teams, particularly the power play unit. A 5-for-6 performance against the Arizona Storm lifted San Diego to a scorching-hot 10-for-11 clip with the man advantage so far this season, a 90.91% conversion rate. Brian Farber leads the Sockers with three power play goals. The Sockers have also killed 5-of-7 power plays against them this season, a 71.43% kill percentage.
SOCKERS GAMES BROADCAST ON AMERICAONE, ESPN RADIO 1700 AND SDSOCKERS.COM IN 2012-13
Fans will be able to follow the San Diego Sockers through every game of the 2012-13 season on multiple media platforms. The Sockers agreed to carry a select schedule of 8-11 games on ESPN Radio 1700-AM in San Diego for the second consecutive season, including the home opener. In addition, an audio broadcast of every game will be streamed online at sdsockers.com. Finally, the PASL contracted with AmericaOne Sports as the official provider of online video streaming in 2012-13. Fans will be able to purchase broadcasts by pay-per-view at $8 per game or $90 for a season pass that covers all PASL broadcasts league-wide. Craig Elsten will call the Sockers action across all platforms for the fourth consecutive season, joined by Tim Strombel as a sideline reporter for home games.
INJURY/ABSENCE UPDATE
The Sockers will be without midfielder Majell Aterado for the season after suffering an ACL tear in his knee during the summer. Midfielder/forward Eric Wunderle will miss at least the first month of the season with an injured tendon in his foot. Defender Dan Antoniuk is not with the team this week after undergoing treatment to deaden a nerve in his leg.
OPPONENT'S PROFILE: TACOMA STARS (1-1)
The Stars have been pointing for two years at the 2012-13 PASL season as one for a breakout campaign. Owner Marian Bowers has built and moved her team into the Pacific Sports Center in Tacoma. The Stars are now coached by Joey Waters, who played in Tacoma during their mid-'80s heyday in the MISL and brings a wealth of indoor experience to the bench. Forwards Ian Weinberg and Micah Wenzel offensively lead the Stars up front, but speedy midfielders Raphael Cox and Mark Lee are equally dangerous making runs in transition. Goalkeeper has been a position of question for the Stars in past seasons, with Dave Mehberg (1-1, 11.47 GAA) manning the nets this season. Tacoma split a pair of home matches with Turlock to open the season, beating the Express 9-8 before dropping a 15-10 decision. The Stars are 0-7 in the PASL against the Sockers, 0-4 at home.
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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 1, 2012
- Chiles' Torrid Tear Continues, Sockers Beat Tacoma 15-5 for 42nd Straight - San Diego Sockers
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- Dallas Sidekicks 4-0 on season, two hat tricks scored in 10-3 win at Texas Strikers - Dallas Sidekicks
- San Diego Sockers Game Notes - San Diego Sockers
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- Bolts Fall 13-12 to Turlock in Overtime Thriller - Anaheim Bolts
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