Sockers Lose Close Battle in Baltimore, 8-9
March 6, 2004 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Sockers lost a tight match in Baltimore to the defending MISL Blast, 8-9 . The first half saw three lead changes with San Diego up 3-1, but Baltimore scored three unanswered points to retake the lead and kept it the rest of the night. San Diego has dropped their last three and have one more road game this weekend, against the Philadelphia KiXX.
³When you score eight goals, you usually win,² said Sockers Head Coach Brian Quinn. ³However we gave up too many soft goals which changed the momentum at critical times in the game.²
The match promised to be a thriller from the onset. Scoring first for the Sockers, Paul Wright, assisted by Nino DaSilva tied the score at 10:57 of the first. Mariano Bollella, and DaSilva added goals of their own to give the Sockers their only lead of the night at 3-1. Following the Sockers run, Baltimore went on a run of their own scoring three unanswered points from Tarik Walker, Denison Cabral and 2004 MISL All-Star MVP Giuliano Celenza (3-4). Mauricio Alegre tied the score at 4-4 off an assist by Sean Bowers but another quick goal by Baltimore ended the half with the Sockers down 4-5.
Coming back from the half, San Diego had no problem winning the ball but couldn¹t get past Baltimore¹s relentless defense. The Sockers were shut out in the third but the Blast¹s Walker scored his second of four goals for the evening (4-6).
In the fourth, it was exciting end-to-end action with the Sockers inching their way back into competition. New acquisition Ato Leone headed one past All-Star goalkeeper Scott Hileman to make the score 5-7. Hileman retaliated quickly with an assist to Walker who punched one past goalie Victor Nogueira. San Diego seemed to find their rhythm late in the fourth and Paul Dougherty and Tony Velazquez added goals of their own to put the Sockers within one (7-8). Just as soon as it looked like San Diego had a chance to tie, Carlos Garcia, assisted by Chris Handsor put in the game winner at 8:45.
A flurry of penalties against Baltimore and Robbie Aristodemo in as sixth attacker gave San Diego a man advantage. Assisted by ³Mighty Mouse² Dougherty, Alegre scored again and put the Sockers within one. However, time was not on San Diego¹s side and the team lost a thriller on the road. San Diego goalie Nogueira saved seven of 16 shots faced and Brad Flanagan led the team with three blocks. Baltimore¹s Hileman saved 14 of 21 and Cabral led the defense with three blocks.
San Diego travels to Philadelphia to take on the KiXX, Sunday, March 7.
Kickoff is slated for 10:05 a.m. (PST). Catch all the exciting indoor action
live on ESPN Radio 800 AM and on the Web at www.worldtalkradio.com
The Sockers return home to face the Cleveland Force on Thursday, March 11. The first 3,000 fans to the Sports Arena will receive free beanies courtesy of Aztec Appliance, Whole Foods Market and Telemundo. Get your tickets by calling 619.220.TIXS or visiting Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 6, 2004
- Sockers Lose Close Battle in Baltimore, 8-9 - San Diego Sockers
- Howes Scores Four More to Spark Wave to 9-7 Win Over Comets - Milwaukee Wave
- Cleveland defeats Steamers, 6-2 - St. Louis Steamers
- Force Steams Past St. Louis For Victory - Cleveland Force
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