After back-to-back wins in Mexico over the Chihuahua Savage and Monterrey Flash, the San Diego Sockers look to solidify first place in the MASL Pacific Division with a victory over the Dallas Sidekicks at Pechanga Arena San Diego on Saturday.
The Sockers (14-2) already played Dallas (0-13) on Feb. 16 and came out with a 7-4 victory at Credit Union of Texas Event Center. San Diego comes in with a league-best +40 goal differential and has the best defense and goalkeeping, led by Boris Pardo, who only gives up four goals per game.
The Sidekicks come in with the worst goal differential of all MASL teams at -60 and have scored the second-fewest amount of goals only ahead of the Harrisburg Heat.
“It’s another game for us and another chance to get better,” said Sockers captain Kraig Chiles. “We know Dallas is hungry and they are going to give us their best game, but if we don’t show up to lose, we will be ready and look to keep it going.”
Chiles is having one of his best seasons since joining the team back in 2010 when he led the league with 33 goals, helping San Diego capture the title. So far in 2022-2023, the former San Diego State and Chivas USA standout has 14 goals and eight assists in the 14 matches he has played.
The Sockers will have seven remaining games after Saturday with four at home and three on the road including closing the season out with two games at Pechanga Arena versus the Milwaukee Wave on March 30 and Tacoma Stars on April 1. The San Diego Sockers are going for their third-straight Ron Newman Cup and 17th championship overall this season.
Photo courtesy: San Diego Sockers