February 1, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – San Diego Sockers News Release
MESQUITE, TX – -Kraig Chiles netted two goals with two assists as the San Diego Sockers regained first place in the MASL Western Division, edging the Texas Outlaws 6-5 at Mesquite Arena. San Diego (10-1, 29 points) overcame the absences of suspended goalkeeper Boris Pardo and midfielder Charlie Gonzalez, blocking 17 shots on defense and seeing a 19-save performance from backup keeper Xavier Snaer-Williams (3-0).
Tavoy Morgan, Cesar Cerda, Drew Ruggles and Brandon Escoto also scored for the Sockers, with Escoto’s team-leading fifteenth goal of the season proving to be the match-winner at 11:36 in the third quarter. Leading 6-3, the Sockers saw Texas (9-4-1, 27 points) dominate possession in the second half, out-shooting San Diego 21-10. MASL goals leader Luiz Morales netted his 25th and 26th of the season for the Outlaws, his second at 5:22 of the fourth quarter to narrow the score down to 6-5. San Diego defended almost three minutes against a six-attacker formation, holding possession in the final 26 seconds to secure the win and a 6-0 road record.
A physical match saw Texas commit 29 fouls and San Diego 24, but only six penalty cards were shown, a swift departure from the eighteen shown in San Diego’s last dramatic win at Tacoma. Tasked with almost twenty straight minutes of the Outlaws attacking down the stretch, defenders Luis “Peewee” Ortega (five blocks), Guerrero Pino (four blocks) and Mitchell Cardenas (four blocks) helped spearhead a team effort to limit scoring chances.
Morales made his presence felt early, using a powerful step-out from the wall to push Snaer-Williams toward the middle of his crease before pulling his shot back inside the near post for his 25th score of the season and a 1-0 Texas lead at 4:36. The Sockers answered back immediately, as rookie Juan Salazar–playing in the midfield for the injured Felipe Gonzalez–lifted a wall pass to Tavoy Morgan, who trapped the ball off his chest to his head for a point-blank goal just 21 seconds later and a 1-1 tie.
Coming off a hat trick performance in Tacoma, defender Cesar Cerda kept his offensive surge going with a step-over burst and left-footed rocket over goalkeeper Eduardo “Pollo” Cortes, cashing in Chiles’ post-outlet assist and earning a 2-1 lead at 10:54. The Sockers had a first quarter power play on Vini Dantas’ boarding penalty but failed to convert.
With under a minute left to play in the…