San Diego Sockers Weekly Report
January 23, 2020 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers (8-1) head out on the road for the opening segment of a three-week-long, six-match road trip through the East Coast and Mexico, taking on two Eastern Conference clubs in back-to-back weekend matches.
On Friday, the Sockers battle the Harrisburg Heat (7-3), before traveling to Baltimore to counter the Blast (5-5) on Saturday. San Diego enters the road-heavy and game-heavy portion of their schedule, which will see the club play ten matches, nine on the road, over the course of 31 days.
The Sockers have won eight straight contests, including a workmanlike 5-3 victory over the Mesquite Outlaws their last time out. Defender Cesar Cerda scored two goals to lead the San Diego attack. The club welcomed back team captain Kraig Chiles, who netted a goal and an assist in the win.
Harrisburg (7-3) is a perfect 4-0 at home. The Heat are 6-0 against expansion Rochester, and 1-3 against other opponents. Baltimore is two games out of the fourth and final playoff spot in the East, but will have the lying-in-wait advantage on the Sockers, who will play in Harrisburg the night before.
After missing two matches and having his participation cut short in two others, Sockers all-time leading scorer Kraig Chiles was hungry to return to the field in healthy form. Returning from hip and hamstring troubles, Chiles scored a goal early in the first quarter against Mesquite before contributing a second-quarter assist. On the season, Chiles has four goals and three assists in seven matches.
"Pollo" Reinforces Midfield
Hiram "Pollo" Ruiz missed four matches while recovering from a groin strain, but made his presence felt immediately against the Mesquite Outlaws, scoring the first goal of the match just 14 seconds into the action. Ruiz added an assist to the offensive attack less than two minutes later, feeding Chiles off the wall for a goal.
Cerda Scores from the Back
Already the club's assist leader, defender Cesar Cerda showed his scoring touch against Mesquite, scoring the final two goals for San Diego in the 5-3 victory. Cerda finished both left and right-footed against the Outlaws, including the clincher with just ten seconds left in the match. On the season, Cerda has four goals and seven assists (11 points) in nine matches played.
Arriaga Bounces Back
Sockers reserve keeper Diego Arriaga returned to the lineup against the Outlaws, playing a perfect first half in net during the 5-3 win. Arriaga stopped all five shots on net he faced, lowering his goals-against average (GAA) to 3.66 while raising his save percentage (SV%) to .688. Arriaga is expected to see time in goal during the Sockers' extended road trip.
Slav Leads the Way
Midfield acquisition Slavisa Ubiparipovic was shut out for just the second time in a Sockers uniform against Mesquite, but continues to lead the Sockers in goals (9) and points (15). "Slav" has contributed six blocked shots to the club's defense. Ubiparipovic recorded multi-point games in four straight matches (six goals, four assists, 10 points) prior to Sunday.
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