Sockers Renew Rivalry With Blast On Saturday
March 11, 2022 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers-presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego-hit the road for a pair of difficult East Coast matches this weekend, taking on the Baltimore Blast on Saturday evening, and Utica City FC on Sunday afternoon. Saturday's match is set for a 3:05pm, PT kickoff in San Diego from SECU Arena, with the match carried live on MASL TV on YouTube.
The Sockers (16-0-1, 45 points) have won thirteen consecutive matches, the longest active streak in the MASL. San Diego has only lost once all season, an overtime 8-7 setback to Ontario on January 9, and enters the weekend in the top spot of the MASL standings table, two points ahead of Florida (43 points) and ten points ahead of Kansas City (35 points). The Tropics have a game in hand on the Sockers, having played 16 times to San Diego's 17. The win streak has included four overtime victories, three in sudden death and one in a shootout.
The Sockers and Blast are the two most decorated clubs in the history of indoor soccer, combining for 25 championships, 15 for the Sockers, and 10 for Baltimore. The Blast have captured three Ron Newman Cup MASL championships, with a three-peat from 2016-18. The rivalry between these clubs dates back to the 1980s, when the Sockers and Blast met four times for the championship from 1983-1990, with San Diego winning all four times.
In the MASL, the Sockers and Blast have gone head-to-head four times, with the home team winning each time. San Diego beat Baltimore 7-2 and 5-1 at Pechanga Arena, while in their only trip to SECU Arena, the Sockers dropped a 9-5 decision to Baltimore on January 25, 2020. The two teams met at Royal Farms Arena on December 4, 2015, with the Blast winning 8-6.
The Sockers are a perfect 8-0 on the road this season, the only undefeated road team in the MASL (Florida is 6-0-1 on the road). San Diego's unblemished road record has been hard-earned, as the Sockers have won three times in overtime, including a shootout victory at Ontario. Baltimore is 6-3 at home this season.
Last weekend, the Sockers shut down the other hottest team in the league, ending the Chihuahua Savage's seven-match winning streak with a 6-2 decision on Sunday at Pechanga Arena. San Diego completed a 4-0 regular season against the Savage behind another dominant effort from goalkeeper Boris Pardo, who stopped fifteen of the seventeen shots he faced. Kraig Chiles had two goals and an assist, Charlie Gonzalez two goals, and Cesar Cerda a goal and two assists to pace the San Diego attack.
Baltimore (10-6-0, 31 points) holds the top Wild Card spot in the MASL standings, residing in fourth place, three points ahead of the Ontario Fury. The Blast have taken full advantage of playing in the MASL East, beating 11th/12th-place Utica and Harrisburg nine times. Baltimore is 0-4 against clubs in the playoff bracket, and 10-2 against teams outside the bracket (Milwaukee, Utica, Harrisburg, Tacoma). Lucas Roque is the dominant leading force in the Blast attack, leading the club with 20 goals and 33 points. William Vanzela is 6-5, 5.26 GAA, .688 SV% in net.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from March 11, 2022
- KC Clinches Playoff Spot with 8-6 Win over Wave - Kansas City Comets
- Goldman Hat Trick Fuels Utica City over Harrisburg - Utica City FC
- Comets Can Clinch Playoff Spot with Win over Wave Friday - Kansas City Comets
- Sockers Renew Rivalry With Blast On Saturday - San Diego Sockers
- Spectacular 'Star Wars' Gala - with Incredible Themed Jerseys - Await Tropics Fans at Home Sunday - Florida Tropics SC
- Comets Sign Goalkeeper Hamersky - Kansas City Comets
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