MASL San Diego Sockers

San Diego Sockers Match Preview vs Ontario

Published on April 2, 2022 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release


The San Diego Sockers-presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego-conclude the 2021-22 MASL regular season when they host the Ontario Fury on Sunday evening. The match is set for a 5:05pm PDT kickoff from Pechanga Arena, and will be aired live exclusively on Twitch, on the @masl_soccer channel.

The Sockers (22-0-1, 63 points) have clinched the MASL Shield as the regular-season champion for 2021-22, and have won nineteen consecutive matches, the longest active streak in the MASL. San Diego has lost only once all season, an overtime 8-7 setback to Ontario on January 9. The Sockers' exploits include a perfect 12-0 record on the road this season. The Sockers' win streak has included four overtime victories, three in sudden death and one in a shootout, a total which reduced the club's standing points by four under the new MASL rules. San Diego will be the #1 seed in the Ron Newman Cup playoffs, with home-field advantage throughout.

This is the sixth and final regular-season meeting between the Sockers and Fury, but the first since February 15. San Diego is 4-0-1 against Ontario, and has won the last three, all at Toyota Arena in the Inland Empire. The Sockers were victorious in their first home encounter 6-3 on January 2, before dropping an 8-7 overtime decision on January 9. San Diego prevailed in Ontario 7-2 on January 16, then held off the Fury 8-7 on January 26 in an overtime shootout. February 15 saw the Sockers claim a dominant 8-2 win. San Diego has outscored Ontario 36-22 in the season series.

In their last match, the Sockers put on a show in front of a national audience, demolishing the Florida Tropics 11-4 on Thursday night at Pechanga Arena. The much-anticipated battle between the top two clubs in the MASL turned anticlimactic quickly, as Tavoy Morgan netted four first-quarter goals as part of a 5-1 outburst. Morgan wound up with a career-high-tying five goals and a career-best seven points on the night. Charlie Gonzalez added two goals and three assists, while Leonardo de Oliveira picked up three more assists, increasing his league-leading total to 33. The Sockers clinched the MASL Shield and home-field advantage with the win.

Ontario (9-12-2, 28 points) is fighting for their playoff lives coming into the weekend, but could qualify based on external results. The Fury need losses from St. Louis and Utica to back into the playoffs, but could still finish 7th with a win in San Diego. Ontario has lost seven in a row coming into Sunday. Their last win came on March 5, a 10-7 victory in Tacoma. The Fury are 5-6 on the road this season. Franck Tayou remains the singular focus of the Ontario offense (32-14=46 points), with twice as many points as the second-best total. Justin Stinson is second on the Fury with 18 goals. Former Sockers keeper Chris Toth is 6-8 in 18 starts with a 5.27 GAA and .726 SV%, third-best in the MASL.

Check out the San Diego Sockers Statistics



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