March 18, 2023 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers–presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego–continue a three-match homestand and conclude a two-match weekend as they host the Empire Strykers on Sunday evening. The match is scheduled for a 5:05pm kickoff from Pechanga Arena, and will be streamed live on Twitch on channel @masl_soccer.
The Sockers (17-2, 49 points) have won five in a row, clinching a playoff berth while moving within striking range of clinching the MASL Supporters Shield, awarded to the club with the best record in the Major Arena Soccer League. San Diego leads Chihuahua Savage in the Western Conference by five points in the standings with two matches in hand. The Sockers have a magic number of four points to clinch the MASL Supporters Shield, meaning a combination of points won by San Diego or lost by Chihuahua. The Savage travel to Arena Monterrey to take on the Flash on Sunday afternoon, a 2:35pm kickoff. The Sockers will know the result prior to their kickoff in San Diego.
Sunday marks the fifth of six meetings between the Strykers and Sockers, and the first of two consecutive get-togethers. Empire will return to Pechanga Arena on Friday for a 7:35pm kickoff on Military Night. San Diego is 3-1 against Empire this season, although two of their three wins have come in golden goal overtime. The Strykers broke up the Sockers’ perfect season on February 8 with a dominant 10-4 win in Ontario, then rallied with four consecutive fourth quarter goals to tie up the March 9 match at Toyota Arena, only to see San Diego escape with an 8-7 win on Christian Gutierrez’s golden goal. The two clubs met one another twice to begin the season, with the Sockers emerging victorious by scores of 8-5 and 2-1 (OT).
On Friday night, San Diego used a big second-half effort to rally past the Monterrey Flash by a 6-4 final score. The Flash came out with a determined first-half effort, and led a heavy-legged Sockers side by a 3-0 score. San Diego netted four goals in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to reverse the score-line to 6-3 before Monterrey scored a late goal with six attackers to set the final margin. It was the Sockers’ eighth home win of the season and 18th straight win at Pechanga Arena. Christian Gutierrez led San Diego with a pair of goals, while Kraig Chiles contributed a goal and two assists. Boris Pardo stopped 9-of-13 shots to earn his 17th win.
Empire (12-6-2, 36 points)…