Sockers' Captain Aaron Susi Returns for 2013-14 Season
September 25, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers today announced the return of team captain and starting forward Aaron Susi for the 2013-14 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed as per team policy.
"We needed Aaron to make another championship run, this was a priority for our front office," said general manager John Kentera, "Aaron continues to defy the odds. He's like a fine wine: he gets better with age."
Susi, 39, enters his seventeenth year of professional indoor soccer having served as the Sockers' team captain in all five years of their reboot. He is the only player in the history of the Professional Arena Soccer League to have been a part of all five of the league's championship teams, having won with Stockton in 2008-09 before joining the Sockers in their return season of 2009-10.
Susi cited his continued passion for the game and the desire to maintain the Sockers' legacy of success as reasons for his decision to return to the pitch in 2013-14:
"I think we have a very strong team that can battle for the title, and I can still contribute to our success. I felt wanted by the players and the coaches to keep playing. This keeps me in shape and I love competing at a high level."
Healthy and injury free in 2012-13, Aaron Susi responded with the best season of his indoor career in San Diego. He set personal highs in games played (15), assists (32, 2nd in the PASL) and points (51, 3rd) while leading the Sockers to a 15-1 regular season record and the team's fourth consecutive PASL championship. Aaron continued his high level of performance in the playoffs, leading all players in assists (7) while finishing with 13 points, second only to his teammate Kraig Chiles among all playoff participants.
Susi, who also serves as director of corporate sponsorship for the Sockers, intended to retire at the conclusion of the 2012-13 season but was convinced to return by team owner/head coach Phil Salvagio and general manager John Kentera after a lengthy negotiation over the summer. Aaron's Sockers teams have gone a combined 58-6 in four PASL regular seasons.
"When you have the success I've had in the latter part of my career it definitely keeps you hungry and wanting to come back," said Susi, "It definitely motivates me to come back when we are playing at the highest level. I'd like to keep it going for one more year and see if I can ride off into the sunset."
The Sockers are the four-time defending champions of the Professional Arena Soccer League and have captured fourteen major indoor championships in franchise history. The team will resume their pursuit of "one for the thumb" and a fifth straight championship November 9th at the Valley View Casino Center. Season tickets for the 2013-14 campaign are available by phone at (866) 799-GOAL.
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