San Diego Sockers Pacific Division Final Game 1 Match Preview
March 8, 2016 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers vs. Soles de Sonora
(San Diego Sockers, Credit: Tony Amat)
Carlsbad, CA - The San Diego Sockers and Soles de Sonora will square off in Game One of the Pacific Division Final on Thursday evening at the Valley View Casino Center with kickoff scheduled for 7:05pm PT.
The winner of the two game series (and if both teams win a match the "mini-game" after Game Two) will go on to face either the Las Vegas Legends or the Brownsville Barracudas in the Semifinal of the 2016 Ron Newman Cup Playoffs.
Despite the fact that the Sonora finished tied with Missouri for the league's best record at 17-3 and scored 219 goals (41 more goals than the next highest scoring club in Atletico Baja), San Diego feels it's facing Sonora at the perfect time.
Coming off an 11-3 win to close out the series against Tacoma, the consensus in the clubhouse was that the team had finally put a full 60 minutes together.
"Usually it's been two quarters here or three quarters there, but tonight we were able to show some of our capabilities for a full game," said Anthony Medina as he walked off the field after the Sockers had clinched the series with the Stars. "It was good timing to do that and we are pleased with the performance all the way through."
Head coach Phil Salvagio echoed the sentiments that a playoff series with Sonora could not have come at a better moment. "We're peaking right now and playing well and full of confidence," Salvagio said. "It's all going forward. It's a good time to be peaking."
The majority of the goals racked up by Soles did not come against the Sockers.
San Diego is responsible for three of just eight games in which Sonora failed to reach double digits.
In the season opener and Soles de Sonora's first ever match back on October 24, 2015, San Diego prevailed 7-5.
Two weeks later, Soles de Sonora gave the Major Arena Soccer League a taste of what was to come with a shocking 15-8 victory in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The victory over the Sockers launched an 11-game winning streak. Win number 11 came in San Diego on January 17, 2016 as Sonora broke San Diego hearts on a goal by Antonio Garcia with eight seconds left to give Soles the 6-5 victory.
It was an especially difficult defeat to take as it was the Sockers' first game back following the tragic passing of midfielder Abel "Shadow" Sabele.
A week later and San Diego stopped Sonora in its tracks, halting the winning streak and handing Soles it's only loss on Mexican soil in the most thrilling of fashions. Victor Quiroz scored 3:52 into overtime to hand the Sockers a 10-9 win and shock the Centro de Usos Multiples.
One of the big questions for any team facing Soles de Sonora is how to stop the MASL's regular season scoring champion, Franck Tayou (47 goals and 15 assists).
According to Sockers' defender Enrique "Qeeks" Tovar, it all starts with defending from the front in order to keep Sonora's goalie from finding Tayou right away.
"To stop Franck Tayou, we need to apply good pressure, keep the ball in their half and deny the entry pass into him," Tovar said in a phone interview. "If he receives the pass, we need to get everyone behind the ball, tuck in and make sure his only option is backwards. We did a great job against Tacoma's target players of not allowing them to receive the ball and turn and we need to do the same again on Thursday."
Tayou, of course is not Soles de Sonora's only weapon. Rookie Alejandro Leyva finished tied for fifth in the league in goals with 30.
Soles also has plenty of players who know what it takes to get the job done in the playoffs. Gustavo Rosales scored the goal that clinched the title for Monterrey last season, while Erick Rosas, and goalkeeper Diego Reynoso also shared in the glory.
Of course, they are facing a San Diego Sockers side where almost every player has lifted a trophy at one point or another in their careers. This includes Erick Reveles Tovar and Angel Ruiz who were in Monterrey last season.
The 11 goal blitz in the return match against Tacoma also suggests that the Sockers offense is reaching maximum velocity. Kraig Chiles had a hat-trick in the first game while Matt Clare recorded his in the second as each finished the series with four goals.
Anthony Medina was the hero with the double overtime winner in Game One en route to two goals and two assists in the series.
Even Chris Toth got in on the act with a goal and an assist over the two matches against Tacoma.
The Pacific Division Final could just as easily be a championship series.
With Sonora perhaps being the toughest place to play in the MASL, a win in Game One on Thursday is paramount.
The return match and possibly the "mini-game" will be held just two days later in Hermosillo, Mexico with kickoff slated for 5:05pm PT.
Images from this story
 San Diego Sockers Score vs. Soles de Sonora (Tony Amat) |
 San Diego Sockers vs. Soles de Sonora (Tony Amat) |
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 8, 2016
- San Diego Sockers Pacific Division Final Game 1 Match Preview - San Diego Sockers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
