Susi, Sockers Surge past Monterrey
January 27, 2014 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
San Diego Sockers News Release
MONTERREY, MX--Aaron Susi broke a 3-3 third quarter tie with a power play goal and scored on the power play again in the fourth quarter to help lift the San Diego Sockers to an 8-6 victory over the Monterrey Flash in front of 4,891 fans at Arena Monterrey. Susi, a 17-year indoor veteran and the captain of the Sockers, finished with two goals and two assists while league MVP Kraig Chiles continued his torrid weekend with four more goals.
"You don't want to peak in November, you want to be peaking heading into the playoffs," said head coach Phil Salvagio.
The Sockers completed their most difficult stretch of the regular season with four wins in eight days, including a pair of back-to-back gameday weekends, recorded across four cities and two countries. San Diego handed the Flash (12-3) their first home loss of the season while improving to 8-0 on the road. The result avenged a 6-5 overtime loss at home to Monterrey on November 16th that had dropped the Sockers to an 0-2 start.
"We've been playing very well on the road," said Chiles, "It's our opportunity to leave everything else behind and focus on the game, and it seems to be working very well for us."
The Sockers were greeted on Sunday evening by a robust crowd, a pyrotechnics show introducing the Flash, a marching band and a tough Monterrey side that had not lost at home while allowing the second fewest goals in the league. A tense and well played game saw the teams tied at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 before San Diego rolled out three straight goals in the fourth to push to a 7-4 advantage.
Critical to the Sockers' success was a tactical switch made at halftime on the power play. Salvagio moved Chiky Luna to the "target" position at the top of the crease while adding a second player to the top of the power play, preventing the Flash from automatically double teaming Chiles. Luna was asked to make quick passes to the wings under pressure.
The result was three straight power play goals in the second half against the team with the most penalty kill stops in the PASL. Luna twice set up Susi's score, and it was Luna to Susi to Chiles on Chiles' fourth and final goal of the night to salt the game away.
"Credit to Phil, he did a great job of recognizing Monterrey's defense and figuring out what we needed to do," said Luna, who finished a fine weekend with three goals and three assists.
"We are definitely a multi-dimensional team, we don't have to attack you just one way," added Chiles.
Working best for the Sockers on this three-day, two-game Mexican road trip was the decision to feed the three-time defending PASL MVP the ball. Coming off a career-best tying nine point game (four goals, five assists), Chiles netted twice in each half against Monterrey to cap off a ridiculous eight goal, thirteen point weekend that is sure to garner PASL Player of the Week honors as well as a number of MVP votes for this season.
Afterward, the SDSU product reflected on how the Sockers have come together away from home.
"Hopefully the timing is good, because we're heading into the playoffs and we're going to have to win it on the road."
The PASL announced earlier in the week that the Chicago Mustangs will host the 2014 Ron Newman Cup championship at the Sears Centre in suburban Chicago. This means the Sockers, who remain one game (and a tiebreaker) behind Las Vegas with three games remaining for the Pacific Division lead, will likely have to win two playoff elimination games just to reach the Final Four in the Windy City.
"After we lost to Las Vegas (on January 11th), all the boys really banded together and got serious," said Salvagio, "We've been training hard and playing well and we're looking to win another championship, that's our only goal."
Anthony Medina's brilliant long distance goal snapped a 4-4 tie with 12:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, while goalkeeper Chris Toth (10-3) made fourteen saves and registered an assist for the second straight game, setting up Chiles' hat trick goal.
"It took me a little while to figure out the (goal wall and corner) boards and how they play down here," said Toth, who was victimized for two first half near post goals before shutting out the Flash in the third quarter, "My defense played really well in front of me and thankfully we were able to get out of here with two wins."
Salvagio repeatedly praised the defensive work of his back line, a unit that cleared three potential goals off the line. Evan McNeley, back from two weeks missed due to a foot injury, cleared a rocket shot with his head that was ticketed to snap a 3-3 tie when Monterrey was on a third quarter power play.
"Credit to our trainers (Paul Savage and Kara Wickeraad), they did a great job this weekend keeping our team together. Winning back-to-back games is often because of your training staff," said Salvagio.
In the end, the Sockers left with great respect for the Flash organization and the fans of Monterrey, who showed spirit during the game then applauded the four-time "campeones" off the field after the win.
"That was rather...shocking, actually," said Chiles, "Very classy fans, a top class arena, this was a great trip."
The Sockers return home on Saturday, February 1st when they host the Toros de Mexico. If the current Pacific Division standings hold, the Sockers would host the Toros for the 3rd-vs-2nd elimination playoff game at home on February 22nd, making this a playoff preview. Tickets for "Mighty 1090 T-Shirt Night", where the first 5,000 fans at the Valley View Casino Center will receive a new Sockers T-Shirt, are available by phone at (866) 799-GOAL or online at www.sockers.com.
Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from January 27, 2014
- Wichita B-52s Win over Tulsa and Advance to Quarterfinal of US Open Cup - Wichita B-52s
- Harrisburg Heat Weekly - Harrisburg Heat
- Susi, Sockers Surge past Monterrey - San Diego Sockers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
