PASL San Diego Sockers

Sockers Control Fury 13-5 For Sixth Straight Win

Published on December 29, 2013 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release


SAN DIEGO--At the Professional Arena Soccer League regular season's halfway point, the Sockers are trending in the right direction.

Kraig Chiles scored four goals with two assists and Evan McNeley notched a four-point night for the second consecutive game as the San Diego Sockers (6-2) outpaced the Ontario Fury 13-5, earning a sixth consecutive victory in front of 3,683 at the Valley View Casino Center.

"We're starting to click," said head coach Phil Salvagio, who saw his team set season bests for goals (13), margin of victory (8) and power play goals (3), "We've been working on our formats all year. All we needed were games (to improve). We're going to keep getting better. This isn't the best we've got."

Facing a Fury side that was without their top forward and a couple veteran defenders, the Sockers jumped to an 8-2 halftime lead and never looked back. Chiles had a hat trick by halftime, including a shootout goal, and finished with a season-best six point effort.

After missing five weeks of preseason rehabbing a knee injury, Chiles has rebounded from a slow start to net 22 points in his last five games (fifteen goals, seven assists).

"We're playing much better as a unit on both sides of the field," said Chiles, "This was one of our best games of the year, with four solid quarters."

The Sockers pounced on the Fury (2-6) with back-to-back goals at the 10:11 and 9:01 marks of the first quarter, with Diego Rovira assisting twice on goals from Chiles and McNeley. Rovira marked his return to the lineup after missing the Sockers' last game against Turlock due to illness.

"It was good to play well finally at home," said Rovira (goal, two assists), "It was good for our confidence to give our fans a good show, and better yet we got the win."

McNeley, a left-footed defender with a cannon shot who came to the Sockers from the MISL Milwaukee Wave, made his impact felt at both ends of the pitch throughout the game and was named Man of the Match by the assembled media after accruing two goals and two assists for the second consecutive game.

Evan dedicated his performance to his grandfather, who recently suffered a stroke, and the McNeley family who has rallied their support around him.

"He had a stroke the other day, and I just knew he was going to be with me (on the field) tonight. My family is there (with him) right now. Just believe, I guess. I believe in myself and my family, and the game will speak for itself."

With rookie Fury players making mistakes and allowing unmarked Sockers to roam free, several San Diego players made their presence felt on the scoreboard. Defender Brian O'Connor (USD) scored goals on his first two shots of the season, including a left-footed cracker that snuck inside the left post early in the third quarter to put the Sockers ahead 10-2.

San Diego also saw their best effort of the season on special teams. The much maligned Sockers power play, which entered the night 17th in the 20-team PASL in efficiency, connected on 3-of-5 attempts.

"All of us are really trying to hone in on (the power play)," said Chiles, who had two of the three San Diego power play goals, "All of us are trying to right that ship and we're slowly getting better."

On defense, Brian Farber and McNeley shined when called upon to kill a 1:45 two-man disadvantage in the third quarter. The Sockers clinically broke Ontario's pressure and helped guide outside shots toward goalkeeper Chris Toth, who made twelve saves for his fifth win of the year.

"It was great," said McNeley of the 'No Goal Patrol' penalty killing unit that stopped all five Fury power plays on the night, "When you look to your left and right and see Farber, and Ze (Roberto), Diego, and then you've got maybe the best keeper playing indoor soccer in the country right now behind you in Toth, it's a lot of fun and you just want to keep working harder."

Sockers captain Aaron Susi added a goal and assist, with Jeff Hughes also scoring his second goal of the season and Farber netting his seventh of the year, a one-on-one dribbling display coming seven seconds after a restart. Anthony Medina closed out the San Diego goal sheet with his fifth of the year.

The Sockers travel south of the border for the first of three times on the season in their next game, as they take on local rivals Toros de Mexico in Tijuana on Sunday, January 5th. They return home on Saturday, January 11th to challenge the Pacific Division-leading Las Vegas Legends on Reunion Night, when the Sockers will welcome home all the greats from decades past to celebrate once again in front of their fans. Tickets for the game are available at (866) 799-GOAL, online at www.sockers.com and on game night at the Valley View Casino Center box office.

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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 29, 2013


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