Sockers Set to Battle Empire
Published on February 7, 2023 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers-presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego-begin the most difficult portion of their 2022-23 MASL schedule, starting a six-match road trip with a Wednesday night showdown in the Inland Empire against the Empire Strykers. The match will kick off from Toyota Arena in Ontario at 6:05pm PST, streaming live on Twitch on channel @masl_soccer.
The Sockers and Strykers will meet six times this season, with Wednesday's tilt representing the third of six. San Diego is 2-0 in the season series so far, winning 8-5 at Toyota Arena on December 10 in the club's season opener, and 2-1 (OT) in the home opener on December 11. The Sockers went 5-1 against (the then Ontario Fury) in 2021-22, with the (Fury) giving the Sockers their only regular season loss, an 8-7 OT setback in San Diego. All-time the Sockers are 28-8 against the Fury/Strykers. However, Ontario/Empire is the last franchise to beat the Sockers in regulation, and the last franchise to beat the Sockers in the regular season.
San Diego (10-0, 29 points) is building off the success of a 23-0-1 regular season in 2021-22, as well as a 6-0-1 playoff run. The club has fourteen straight wins in all competitions leading back to the semifinal Match One playoff overtime loss to Chihuahua on April 18 last season. The Sockers have not lost a match in regulation since a 6-4 loss in Ontario on March 13, 2021, a stretch of 51 matches in which they are 47-0-4 (postseason included). They have won 30 straight regular season matches, a new MASL record. San Diego has won their last 17 on the road.
The MASL Western Conference is proving to be massively competitive, with six clubs all vying for five playoff berths. San Diego enters the week in first place leading Empire by just three points, with Chihuahua and Mesquite right behind at 24 points. The Sockers have five fewer matches played than the Strykers and two fewer than Mesquite. The MASL points champion at the end of the season receives the MASL Supporters Shield, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Last weekend, San Diego rode past a disadvantaged Mesquite Outlaws side by a 7-2 count at Pechanga Arena. The Outlaws played without top offensive creators Luiz Morales, Pablo de Silva, and Jorge DeLeon due to injury, and the Sockers took advantage by throttling the Mesquite attack. Seven different San Diego field players scored goals, with Charlie Gonzalez pacing in points with three (goal, two assists). Boris Pardo stopped 8 of 10 shots for his tenth win.
Empire (9-5-1, 26 points) saw a seven-match winning streak come to an end on Saturday with an 11-3 loss at Chihuahua. Prior to that, the Strykers were the second-hottest club in the MASL, winning nine of ten matches. Empire is led by Chris Toth in net, who has ended a time-share with Claysson de Lima, emerging as the primary goalkeeper. Toth leads the league with 177 saves, and ranks second in wins (9), fourth in GAA (4.62) and second in SV% (.760). Franck Tayou has scored in every match since being shut out by the Sockers on December 11. The four-time MASL MVP is on a six-match multi-goal scoring streak, netting 16 of his league-leading 24 goals in that stretch. Mohamed Ndiaye, signed to partner with Tayou at forward, has thrived since a move to the defensive back line, leading the MASL with 13 assists.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from February 7, 2023
- Sockers Set to Battle Empire - San Diego Sockers
- Franck Tayou Named Player of the Month - Empire Strykers
- Comets Sign College Draft Pick Jakib Jones - Kansas City Comets
- Monterrey En Chihuahua Esta Noche - Chihuahua Savage
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