March 17, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Empire Strykers News Release
Ontario, Calif. – Playing in front of 5,013, the Empire Strykers fell 5-11 to the visiting San Diego Sockers in a wild Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) game on Sunday, dropping to 3-17-1 on the season. While Empire star Marco Fabián had a hat-trick and his teammate Harold Hanson celebrated a breakout match, recording three points of his own, the duo was bested on the day by four-point shifts from the Sockers’ Charlie Gonzalez and Kraig Chiles. With Empire having shown promise before the break, the wheels came off for Head Coach Paul Wright’s men during the second half, in which they were outscored 2-6.
A total of four visiting attackers finished the contest with three points each.
San Diego started on the front foot, former Stryker Charlie Gonzalez forcing ‘keeper Brian Orozco to tip the ball over the bar courtesy of a wicked drive from just outside the area. The Sockers did open the scoring not long thereafter, another ex-Empire ace, Gabriel Costa, scoring in his first game back from injury. Brandon Escoto bagged the assist on the play. The visitor’s lead wouldn’t persist for long, as Fabián was credited with a tally on a shot from the left that was inadvertently touched into the net by sliding San Diego defender-midfielder Felipe Gonzalez.
The Sockers reclaimed the advantage when Charlie Gonzalez converted a helper from Chiles on a power play, followed by a Cesar Cerda goal on an assist by Flavio Guzman to extend San Diego’s cushion to 1-3. Charlie Gonzalez then got credit for his side’s fourth, the 30-year-old’s shot going wide until scrambling Empire captain Israel Sesay deflected it into his own net.
Inside the second quarter, Fabián proved that his left foot is for more than just standing. First, the two-time FIFA World Cup veteran scored on a give-and-go with forward Hanson, the ball popping into the air off Hanson and into the path of Fabián, who fired a gorgeous volley into the upper right-hand corner from the left. Then, the Strykers attacking standout bagged another with his weaker foot from a similar position, Mo Alewine this time laying the ball off and Fabián’s wicked drive shaking the lower netting inside the right post for a 3-4 scoreline.
After Tavoy Morgan reestablished the previous Sockers advantage on a helper by Chiles, Alan Perez was denied one on one by San Diego Pardo, and Strykers ‘keeper Orozco produced a stunning kick-save on a low Morgan drive…
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