San Diego Sockers Match Preview
March 19, 2021 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers (3-6), presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego, wrap up the 2021 MASL regular season when they take on the Dallas Sidekicks (1-9) from the Allen Events Center in Allen, Texas. The showcase of the league's sixth and seventh-ranked clubs will bring a close to the Major Arena Soccer League regular-season schedule, with all seven participating teams advancing to the Ron Newman Cup playoffs.
Saturday's showdown pits historically strong franchises against one another; however, the current iterations could be described as the resistible force meeting the movable object. The Sockers have lost four in a row for the first time since coming back to play in 2009 (Sockers-3), and have already clinched the franchise's first losing season since 2004, when Sockers-2 folded. The Sidekicks have lost five in a row, and are 4-28 in their last 32 contests.
While the standings do neither club any favors, the playoff matchups have already been determined regardless of Saturday's result. The Sockers will face Tacoma in a best-of-three in Ontario, California in the opening round, while the Sidekicks will take on the second-seeded Ontario Fury.
Saturday's primary goal will be to continue to refine the league's most struggling offense. The usually high-powered Sockers, slowed by COVID and injury during the season, are scoring an unfathomable 3.56 goals per game, a total that would have been frowned upon in previous years for a 30-minute total. Only five Sockers have multiple goals after nine games, led by Brandon Escoto (10-2=12 points). San Diego's defense is allowing just 4.33 goals per game, best in the MASL (Florida second, 4.58).
Last weekend saw frustration take different shapes, as San Diego lost to Ontario 6-4 and Tacoma 5-4 (OT). Against the Fury, the Sockers dominated possession, flow, and the shot chart, but surrendered three counter-attack goals in the second quarter and trailed 4-0 into the fourth. Against the Stars, San Diego defended in a rugged fashion but mounted an only sporadic attack, nonetheless taking three different leads before allowing an equalizer in the final two minutes, and a golden goal in overtime.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 19, 2021
- San Diego Sockers Match Preview - San Diego Sockers
- St. Louis Ambush Acquire Goalkeeper Matt Perrella - St. Louis Ambush
- Perella on Loan to St. Louis Ambush for the Remainder of the 2021 Season - Rochester Lancers
- Toyota Arena to Host Playoffs - Ontario Fury
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