February 18, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – San Diego Sockers News Release
San Diego Sockers’ Doris Pardo on the field
(San Diego Sockers)
ONTARIO, CA – Boris Pardo stopped all three shootout attempts he faced and Kraig Chiles’ lone shootout goal held up, as the San Diego Sockers outlasted the Empire Strykers 9-8 in an overtime shootout Sunday night at Toyota Arena. Chiles netted two goals with two assists in the match, giving him 698 points in his career, while Brandon Escoto matched his scoring output with two goals and two assists.
Leading 8-6 after three quarters, the Sockers saw Empire come back with goals at 9:54 and 14:04 of the fourth quarter to equalize. After a tense and scoreless ten-minute overtime, a three-round shootout was played to settle the match. Chiles scored to start round one, followed by a Pardo save against Strykers midfielder Justin Stinson. Brandon Escoto hit the right post with his second-round attempt, but Pardo rose up again, forcing Marco Fabián (two goals) to shoot wide. Cesar Cerda was saved by Empire keeper Brian Orozco in round three, but Pardo blocked Adam James’ attempt to complete the perfect shootout and secure the victory.
“Those guys had so much fight, everyone did their job so it was time to do mine,” said Pardo, who had 12 saves en route to his tenth victory (10-1), “It was an all-around team effort to secure the win.”
Badly short-handed and injury-riddled to start the night with four top scorers missing, the Sockers (14-2, 40 points) took injuries in-match to defenders Drew Ruggles and Luis “Peewee” Ortega, thinning the ranks even further. By the end of the night, San Diego was down to one substitute among two defender positions, with most players exhausted by fatigue.
“It was a really tough second half for the group, a lot of defending, and we’re honestly a little bit banged up,” said Chiles, who is two points away from 700 in his career, “This was one of the best atmospheres we’ve been in all year, and they got a good show.”
“We lost four guys during the night and we were down to about ten guys,” said head coach Phil Salvagio, “We always find a way to pull through, but this was a hard one.”
The Sockers got their first quarter off to a fast start, netting twice in the first five minutes. Brandon Escoto bagged them both, first scoring on a shot from outside that deflected over the keeper Brian Orozco, then on a straightaway volley off Chiles’ backheel assist, trapping a ball out of the air at 4:33….