Sockers vs. Philadelphia Kixx
March 1, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers look to keep the streak alive with a Saturday match up against the Cleveland Force. The Sockers are 0-4 against the Force this season and 3-11 against Eastern Conference teams. However, the Sockers defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia KiXX Thursday night, 16-12, in San Diego.
The Opponent
The Cleveland Force have been a bit of a pain for the Sockers this season, including 8-10 and 10-15 losses in Cleveland. The Force currently hold second in the Eastern Conference, but are only one game over Harrisburg and Baltimore. Cleveland is 8-5 at home and have lost their last three games.
Next Home Game
San Diego will take a week off after tonight's game, before facing the Kansas City Comets at home on February 28. The game will be televised live on Cox Channel 4 and will be tape delayed on Fox Sports World on March 14 at 8 p.m. (EST).
The game against the Comets is also Ball Night for the Sockers. The first 5,000 fans in the arena will receive a free size-five soccer ball, courtesy of Locust.
Injuries
The Sockers have struggled with injuries all season long, adding Anthony Farace back to the list after reaggravating his hamstring strain.
Matthew Stewart is being added to the IRL with an MCL injury, adding to injury woes for the team. Nate Hetherington will not be playing after a hamstring injury during practice last week.
WISL Rookie of the Year David Beltran has not played this season due to a pelvic strain, while Shawn Beyer has been out more than in this season, the most recent injury a concussion. Shandley Phillips is out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. Seven other players on the San Diego roster have missed at least one game this season due to injury.
Mariano Is Back
After battling injury at the beginning of the season, Mariano Bollella is back and in a big way. Bollella has catapulted to second on the team with 55 points, including 20 goals and 14 assists.
Pernia Breaks 100-Block Plateau With Sockers, 200+ In Career
Gaston Pernia is not the guy that opponents like to face. His 72 blocks this year beat his WISL-leading 53 blocks from last season. Pernia currently leads the league and has totaled 125 blocks in his career.
Farias Catapults Up All-Time Scoring List
Chile Farias has been with the Sockers for two years and is already starting to make his way into the teams' record books. With a total of 57 goals and 44 assists, Farias jumps to 21st place at 101 points. He needs just 8 more points to move into the Top 20, with such legends as Cha Cha Namdar (109) and current head coach Brian Quinn (335).
Rookie Rally
The rookies on the already young Sockers team have definitely made an impact this season.
- Robbie Aristodemo is making his bid for Rookie of the Year with 34 points this season, including two 3-pointers and nine goals. Defensively, Aristodemo has played the sixth attacker in 12 games this season.
- Kevin Sakuda, a fan favorite, has played in every game this season. The defender has blocked 25 shots as a constant force in the defense for the Sockers. He has also racked up seven points, three goals and one assist.
- Mark Ughy, a 6-2, 195 lb. forward from Hungary, has joined the team after having his immigration paperwork cleared. Ughy has totaled six points in three games.
New Additions
Zach Scott, a 5-11, 185 lb., defender played seven games with the Cleveland Force on loan from the Seattle Sounders, before coming to the Sockers. With the Force, Scott totaled one goal and seven blocks.
Several Sockers Top MISL Leaderboard
Kansas City's Dino Delevski jumped into first place in the Spalding Scoring race with 123 points after a high-point affair last weekend. Chile Farias moves to second with 104 points and holds a 16-point advantage over Milwaukee's Joe Reiniger (88 points). Farias is also tied for third in the MISL with 26 assists and leads the league with 212 total shots.
Fellow teammate, defender Gaston Pernia has blocked 72 opponent shots in 30 games this season, putting him in second place in the MISL. Harrisburg's Genoni Martinez ranks first with 78. Pernia led the Sockers and the World Indoor Soccer League in blocks last season with 53 in 23 games.
Goalkeeper Nick Vorberg holds sixth place on the MISL's leading goalkeeper board with an 11.04 points-against average. Milwaukee's Victor Nogueira leads the list with a 7.65 points-against average.
East Meets West
The Sockers will be glad to return to California and the Western Conference. The team is 3-12 against Eastern Conference teams this season. The three wins in the Eastern Conference were against Baltimore (2) and Philadelphia (1).
Live and On Your Computer
The San Diego Sockers are now available live and on your computer, via the internet. Log onto www.sockers.com for more information. All games are available at webcast.sockers.com.
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Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 1, 2003
- Sidekicks Lose 16-14 in Overtime to Kansas City - Dallas Sidekicks
- Heat Playoff Prospects Take Hit in Charm City - Harrisburg Heat
- Sockers vs. Philadelphia Kixx - San Diego Sockers
- Force Falls In Badger State - Cleveland Force
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