MASL San Diego Sockers

Sockers Match Preview vs Empire

Published on March 8, 2024 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release


The San Diego Sockers-presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego-conclude their four-match homestand by welcoming the Empire Strykers to Pechanga Arena for the third and final time on Sunday evening. The match is set for a 5:05pm kickoff, and will be streamed live on Twitch channel @masl_soccer, simulcast in Spanish on canela.tv

The Sockers (15-4, 43 points), owners of the best record in MASL history all-time at 164-35-5, are in a period of struggle the club has not experienced since 2021, losing two of three and four of the last seven matches. The 21-0 Monterrey Flash have clinched the MASL Supporters Shield for the best regular season record in the league, ending San Diego's back-to-back claim to the silverware. The Sockers hold an eight-point lead over second place Chihuahua in the Western Division, but posted an 0-3 record against the Savage this season. San Diego is 60-6-1 over their last 67 matches (.895 win percentage).

This is the fifth of six meetings between the Sockers and Strykers, who will conclude the season series next Sunday in Ontario. San Diego is 4-0 so far against Empire, including an 8-4 win when the clubs last met on March 1 at Pechanga Arena. The Sockers have also posted wins of 7-3, 8-5 and 9-8 (shootout). All-time, San Diego is 35-9 against the Empire Strykers/Ontario Fury franchise.

Last weekend, the Sockers split a pair of home matches, defeating Empire 8-4 on Friday, March 1 before dropping a 5-4 decision to the Chihuahua Savage on Sunday, March 3. The Sockers scored four third-quarter goals on Friday to blow open a close match, led by a Felipe Gonzalez hat trick and Tavoy Morgan's career-high four assists. On Sunday, an early 2-0 Sockers lead was whittled down by the Savage, who scored three straight goals to start the second half and build a 4-2 advantage. San Diego battled back on goals by Charlie Gonzalez and Flavio Guzman, tying the match 4-4 with 3:40 remaining, but saw Chihuahua's Angel Castro net the match-winner just 21 seconds later.

Empire (3-15-1, 9 points) has lost three straight and been eliminated from playoff contention. The club pulled the parachute on their season in the last week, loaning top stars Justin Stinson and Stefan Mijatovic to the Tacoma Stars. The Strykers are 1-8-1 at home and 2-7 on the road. They have beaten St. Louis twice and Dallas once. The club is led by Mexican outdoor star Marco Fabián, who is a lock for MASL Newcomer of the Year with (26-12=38) points in 16 matches. Fabián has scored at least one goal in all sixteen matches he has played, and sits one goal and two points off the MASL lead. His offensive prowess has not converted into team results, as the Strykers are 2-13-1 in Fabián's matches. Young midfielder Alan Perez now ranks second on the club with eight goals and seventeen points. Brian Orozco has started the last seven matches in net, going 1-5-1 with a 5.97 GAA and .647 SV%.

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Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 8, 2024


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