Sockers Outlast Turlock 9-6 for Fifth Straight Win
December 22, 2013 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
SAN DIEGO--Brian Farber scored twice and made a pair of key shot blocks to help kill a fourth quarter two-man disadvantage as the San Diego Sockers withstood a second half rally from the Turlock Express for a 9-6 victory. A crowd of 3,416 at the Valley View Casino Center saw San Diego win at home for the first time this season, helped by Kraig Chiles' hat trick and Evan McNeley's four point night.
"We got a little lucky," said Farber, who was named the game's top star for his two-way play, "I got a couple key blocks when we were two men down. Once we killed those penalties we knew we had a chance."
The Sockers (5-2) built a 6-3 lead at halftime with a concerted team effort at both sides of the pitch. After Turlock netted the game's first goal on a deflection by Pablo Lopez just over a minute into the action, San Diego responded behind the left boot of McNeley, who potted a power play goal to equalize then assisted on Raymundo Reza's sixth goal of the year.
Reza (SDSU) has scored a goal in five straight games for the Sockers, and the second-year mid has impressed his head coach Phil Salvagio.
"It usually takes a year, year and a half for a player to make the adjustment (from outdoor to indoor)," said Salvagio, "Raymundo's become an experienced player and he sees the game much better."
Farber's two tallies came in the second quarter, bracketed by goals from Eduardo Velez and Kraig Chiles. The Express (2-4) fought back with a much more determined effort after halftime, shutting out the Sockers in the third quarter. Martyn Arista netted a hat trick for Turlock, scoring once in the third and again to start the fourth quarter as San Diego saw their lead trimmed to one goal.
When McNeley was sent to the penalty box with 9:22 remaining in the game for a trip and San Diego was quickly thereafter whistled for their sixth team foul, Turlock found themselves with 1:37 of two man advantage. Farber's defense, joined by Ze Roberto and Scott Martin in the penalty killing unit, helped keep the Express from leveling the score.
"That five-v-three was the key to the game," said Salvagio.
Kraig Chiles scored off a Reza assist with 3:13 remaining to push the Sockers ahead by two and force the Express to pull their keeper and go to six attackers. San Diego spoiled the strategy by putting a pair of goals behind sixth attacker Adrian Gutierrez, with Chiles completing his hat trick and McNeley scoring from inside his own defensive crease, a full field goal to put the Sockers ahead 9-5. Lopez finished a hat trick for Turlock to close out the scoring with forty four seconds remaining.
San Diego returns home after Christmas, hosting the Ontario Fury on Saturday, December 28th at the Valley View Casino Center. Tickets are available by calling (866) 799-GOAL or via the Sockers' website, www.sockers.com.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 22, 2013
- Heat Fall at Cleveland - Harrisburg Heat
- Las Vegas Legends Record Extended To 7-1 - Las Vegas Legends
- Disappointing Second Half Sinks Fury In Saltillo - Ontario Fury
- Sockers Outlast Turlock 9-6 for Fifth Straight Win - San Diego Sockers
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