January 25, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – San Diego Sockers News Release
The San Diego Sockers–presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego–begin a stretch of four matches in eight days with another interstate back-to-back, hosting the St. Louis Ambush on Saturday night before traveling to Washington to take on the Tacoma Stars on Sunday evening. Saturday’s kickoff at Pechanga Arena is set for 7:05pm, and will be streamed live on Twitch channel @masl_soccer. Sunday’s kickoff at accesso ShoWare Center is set for 5:05pm, and will be streamed on Twitch on channel @masl_soccer3.
The Sockers (7-1, 21 points), owners of the best record in MASL history all-time at 156-32-5, have won the first two MASL Supporters Shields, awarded to the club with the league’s best regular season record. Their 7-1 record currently leads the West but trails 12-0 Monterrey in the East. San Diego is 52-3-1 over the last two+ regular seasons.
San Diego and St. Louis are meeting for the first and only time in 2023-24. The Sockers are 0-3 all-time against the Ambush, although the clubs have rarely met, and never in San Diego. On December 28, 2014, the Sockers lost 8-3 at Family Arena in St. Louis, and in the 2021 COVID season, the Sockers lost 6-4 and 4-3 matches at St. Louis. By contrast, the Sockers and Stars meet for the fifth of six times this season, and the third time in Tacoma. San Diego is 4-0 against the Stars this season, and have beaten Tacoma in twelve straight matches. Combatants dating back to the days of the original MISL, the Sockers own an all-time record of 76-22 against Tacoma. In the MASL, San Diego is 33-4 against Tacoma, and 4-0 in playoff series (with an 8-1 overall playoff record).
The Sockers had last weekend off after playing Wednesday night in Ontario against the Empire Strykers. San Diego emerged with an 8-5 win, improving to 2-0 against the Strykers this season. After a keeper-dominated first half that saw the Sockers leading 2-1, San Diego ripped off six straight goals to start the second half, building an 8-1 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Empire scored four times in quick succession with the sixth attacker to narrow the score. Brandon Escoto’s two-goal performance was highlighted by a spectacular bicycle kick goal from behind the attacking line.
This weekend marks the third of four interstate back-to-back weekends for San Diego, and sees the beginning of a four-match road trip that continues into February. The Sockers will need to…