San Diego Sockers Weekly
November 23, 2019 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAY HI TO THE NEW GUY(S)
Two Sockers will make their club debuts on Sunday at 5pm when they take the floor against the Express. All-MASL midfielder Slavisa Ubiparipovic and defender Emmanuel Aguirre are both expected to be selected for the lineup. New reserve goalkeeper Diego Arriaga is also available for selection.
NO DIVISIONS, TWO CONFERENCES
The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) decided during the offseason to go to a two-conference format. The Sockers share the Western Conference with familiar rivals Ontario, Tacoma and Turlock Cal Express, as well as Dallas, Mesquite, Monterrey, and the newly reinstated Soles de Sonora. The top four clubs in the Western Conference will make the playoffs .
RULES CHANGES
Teams are now allowed to dress sixteen (16) players for a match, as long as two are designated goalkeepers. The Ron Newman Cup Playoffs will feature home and away legs, and a potential 15-minute Mini-Game if needed, in each round including the Final. The #1 team in each conference will have the right to choose their opponent in the opening round of the playoffs.
HONORING THE CHAMPS
The Sockers will honor their eight players and two coaches who contributed to Team Mexico's championship at the WMF World Cup in Perth, Australia, in a special pre-game ceremony prior to Sunday's kickoff: Sockers assistant coaches Rene Ortiz and Victor Melendez led Team Mexico's coaching staff, while Brandon Escoto, Christian Gutierrez, Hiram "Pollo" Ruiz, Cesar Cerda, Luis "Peewee" Ortega, Guerrero Pino, Ray Contreras and Ismael Rojo were players.
HOME HEAVY TO START
The Sockers will open with seven of their first nine matches at home, before a midseason road swing which will see 9 of 10 away from San Diego in the months of January and February. The Sockers close with home matches in four of their final five fixtures this season.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY?
Several Sockers are coming off honored seasons in 2018-19. Goalkeeper Boris Pardo was named First Team team all- MASL and Goalkeeper of the Year. Brandon Escoto was First Team All-MASL, Cesar Cerda earned Second Team all-MASL honors, Guerrero Pino was selected for the Third Team, and Kraig Chiles and Luis "Pee Wee" Ortega were Honorable Mentions.
UPCOMING MATCH
TURLOCK CAL EXPRESS (1-0)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 5:05p
PECHANGA ARENA SAN DIEGO
The Sockers open their 2019-20 campaign with the first of two meetings against the rebranded Turlock Cal Express. San Diego begins the season with an active 21-match regular season winning streak, as the Sockers rose from an early 2-1 record to finish 2018-19 with the best record in the MASL (23-1).
The Express, who won last night 6-5 in OT against Kansas City, tied for the league's worst record at 3-21, but have changed ownership and leadership. Edgar "Chebo" Martinez, formerly of the Sockers' staff, is the new head coach. San Diego went 5-0 against the Express last season.
• Discuss this story on the Major Arena Soccer League message board...
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from November 23, 2019
- San Diego Sockers Weekly - San Diego Sockers
- St. Louis Ambush Announce Revised 2019-20 Schedule - St. Louis Ambush
- Harrisburg Heat Revises Schedule, MetroStars To Cease Operations - Harrisburg Heat
- Major Arena Soccer League Announces Revised 2019-2020 Regular Season Schedule - Baltimore Blast
- Major Arena Soccer League Announces Revised 2019-2020 Regular Season Schedule - MASL
- Blast Continue Opening Weekend with Rematch Versus Utica City - Baltimore Blast
- Comets Drop Opener in Overtime - Kansas City Comets
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.
