San Diego Sockers Match Preview
March 14, 2021 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers (3-5), presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego, take on the Tacoma Stars in the final matchup of a busy Week 11 in the Major Arena Soccer League. Both the Stars and Sockers are tumbling into the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs, in which all seven participating teams in the COVID-influenced 2021 season will participate. San Diego ranks fifth in the seven-team table, and needs back-to-back wins to avoid the franchise's first losing season since 2004. The Stars (3-7) are in sixth, and would pull ahead of San Diego with a win today. The Sockers could recover fifth place with a win in Dallas next week.
On Saturday night, the Sockers lost their third straight match, dropping a 6-4 decision to the Ontario Fury. The I-15 rivalry has taken a turn, as Ontario has now beaten San Diego three times in a row, by a collective score of 18-8. The Fury built a 4-0 lead through three quarters, shutting out the Sockers over five consecutive quarters of head-to-head play dating back to February 18. San Diego erupted for four goals in the fourth quarter, but a pair of counters by Ontario secured the victory. Cesar Cerda scored twice in the loss for the Sockers, while Charlie Gonzalez and Justin Stinson each netted a brace for the Fury.
San Diego is still looking for an upgrade offensively heading into the Ron Newman Cup playoffs. The Sockers are currently the top-ranked defense and bottom-ranked offense in the Major Arena Soccer League. Averaging just 3.5 goals-per-match, San Diego has yet to score more than five goals in a single contest. By contrast, the Sockers are allowing just 4.25 goals-per-match, best in the league (Florida second at 4.54 goals allowed). Top scorers from 2019-20 such as Kraig Chiles, Slavisa Ubiparipovic and Brian Farber have combined for just two total goals on the season, and have largely been inactive. The offense has largely come from two sources, midfielder Brandon Escoto (ten goals in eight games) and forward Leonardo de Oliveira (four goals, team-high six assists). Cesar Cerda (four goals, three assists) is the third Sockers averaging a point-per-game or better.
The Stars (3-7) are also on a three-game losing streak, and like San Diego, are playing a road-only schedule that has harbored no favors. Player/head coach Nick Perera powers the offense as usual, with (7-13=20) points in nine matches played. Baltimore import Vinicius "Vini" Dantas leads Tacoma in goals with nine in nine matches.
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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 14, 2021
- Comets Clinch #3 Seed with 13-4 Win over Dallas - Tacoma Stars
- Stars Win Regular Season Finale against Sockers 5-4 in OT - Tacoma Stars
- San Diego Sockers Match Preview - San Diego Sockers
- Late Rally Falls Short, Fury Win 6-4 - San Diego Sockers
- Fury Wraps up Second Seed - Ontario Fury
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