Chiles celebrates 600, Sockers celebrate weekend sweep
Credit: Don De Mars/ EVT Sports
Six games in 14 days, six wins in 14 days for the San Diego Sockers.
The Sockers capped off a loaded part of their schedule with a 9-3 win over the Tacoma Stars on Friday and an 8-3 win over Utica City FC on Sunday.
The weekend was to be the true kickoff to Xavier Snaer-Williams’ indoor career. He was thrust into action following the MASL’s front office reviewing a tackle Boris Pardo made on Willie Spurr in the fourth quarter of the previous match in Ontario. The play in question was deemed a dangerous play that should have resulted in a red card, and Pardo was suspended for two games.
Friday was a celebration as Kraig Chiles scored a shootout goal for his 600th career point in indoor soccer. After the game, Chiles stated, “I’m grateful, blessed, and fortunate to score 600 points. I’m proud to be able to do it for the best indoor soccer franchise in the country and in the city I was raised in. It’s a collective effort, and I’ve had nothing but support from my family, the organization, and my teammates.” While the night was defined by that moment, it was the Tavoy Morgan show throughout the match, with Morgan racking up a goal and three assists on the night.
Juan Manuel Rojo kept his hot streak of offense going, bagging himself a brace (two goals) against the Stars and added a block on the night as well. The Sockers, from the jump, controlled the pace of the game. They went after Tacoma and attacked hard throughout the game. San Diego’s offense flowed with the shades of past championship sides, easily gaining back possession and playing the ball to each other with ease or hitting Tacoma on the break at speed.
After a day of rest, the Sockers picked up where they left off, taking advantage of a Utica team that looked out of their depth for stretches of the game. Christian Gutierrez netted himself a hat trick in the game, and Rojo added a goal and two assists to the efforts on Sunday. The Sockers raced out to a 5-0 lead late into the second quarter, but Utica City kept fighting and would score the next three goals of the match. Hewerton Moreira would keep Utica in the game with his three assists and his confident presence in the UCFC midfield.
San Diego would only need Morgan to right the ship as he scored once again. The goal would be Morgan’s 15th on the season, good for third in the league, and bring his scoring streak to eight games running. This would also be a banner day for the Sockers’ power play, scoring on two of the three power plays they were awarded. The final blue card was given with 26 seconds left in the game, and both teams let the clock run out at that point.
With the win Sunday, the Sockers moved to 9-0-1 on the season with 25 points earned, good for third in the league. San Diego trails the Kansas City Comets by two points for the number two spot and the Florida Tropics, the team they met in last season’s semifinals, by three points for the top spot. San Diego will be pleased with that as they have both of those teams on the home schedule later this season.
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The Sockers will face Tacoma for their next three contests, once at home on February 6 and in Kent, Washington on the 11 and 12 of February. San Diego will need to bring the same energy they brought to this weekend’s set of games in order to secure wins in all three contests, but the Sockers showed why they are the defending Ron Newman Cup champions this weekend with dominant performances.
Born and raised in Point Loma, to a passionate soccer loving, Portuguese family and was raised with an even bigger love of the sport. Being from San Diego, he has a deep love for all of our hometown sports, but soccer is truly where his heart lies. He played the game from an early age through High School and even tried his hand at coaching the Point Loma High School Girls Soccer team. He has been a Loud and Loyal supporter of many clubs over the years, making his voice heard in many a chants behind the goal for the Sockers, the Loyal, and the Men’s and Women’s National Teams when they have played in our great city. He even met his wife of two years, through their joint love of soccer. You could say that every part of his life has always involved soccer.