December 25, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Empire Strykers News Release
Ontario, Calif. – Coming off their first back-to-back wins since the later part of their 2022-23 Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) campaign, the Empire Strykers players have had little time to celebrate, as they’re readying themselves for the most stern test to date of their budding on-field chemistry. After defeating the Tacoma Stars at home and then the Texas Outlaws on the road, both victories coming by 10-5 score lines, Head Coach Onua Obasi and his squad travel south this weekend to battle long-time Southern California rivals San Diego Sockers.
2-2-0 (wins-losses-shootout/overtime losses) Empire takes on 2-1-0 San Diego on Saturday, December 28, 2004, at 7:05 PM PST. In the U.S., the meeting at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside will stream exclusively in English on CBS Sports Golazo Network. Tickets are available here.
Last season, the worst in the history of the Strykers organization, saw pro indoor soccer novice Marco Fabián take the league by storm. Perhaps the biggest difference thus far in 2024-25 is that the two-time FIFA World Cup veteran has been a bit quieter on the attack while his team’s overall output has significantly improved. Among Empire’s greatest strengths over the past two games has been its unpredictability going forward, with nine players having made noteworthy contributions relative to their positions, including a pair of defenders and even two goalkeepers.
In the recent win at Texas, one of the Strykers’ six Mexican nationals made headlines in former Outlaws ace Emmanuel Aguirre. Despite being a nominal defender, the 30-year-old bagged a goal and two assists, matching the points total put up by his attacking teammate Justin Stinson. Having previously spent the 2019-20 campaign with the Ontario Fury (today’s Empire Strykers), Aguirre rejoined the club amid last month’s dramatic roster shakeup at Texas, which resulted in Empire on Saturday facing an opponent who featured mainly rookies and players with limited experience lacing up in the MASL.
“Although I worry first about doing a great job keeping the opposition attackers at bay, I have always considered myself someone with qualities on both sides of the ball,” said veteran Aguirre in Spanish, with his wife acting as translator. “I like to take every opportunity I can to go forward, but always making sure the team can count on me to get back quickly when I’m needed.”
While the Outlaws’ Erik Macias and Billy…