San Diego Loyal has started off the season just like it did last year with back-to-back wins after a convincing 3-0 victory over Phoenix Rising on Sunday afternoon at Torero Stadium. SD Loyal opened up the scoring in the 44th minute after midfielder Charlie Adams took advantage of a turnover and found forward Evan Conway just outside the box who then proceeded to beat the best efforts of goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo.
Phoenix created several chances to tie the match after halftime but goalkeeper Koke Vegas was up to the task each time including his great save in the 69th minute from a shot by forward Manuel Arteaga. San Diego Loyal took advantage in the 74th minute when recently acquired striker Ronaldo Damus took a long-range shot that got through the Phoenix defense and the outstretched arms of Rios Novo to make the score 2-0.
The Haitian Sensation, as Damus has been nicknamed throughout the league, came in as a substitute earlier in the game as he made his first official appearance for San Diego Loyal.
The home side would put the match on ice in the 90th minute when midfielder Blake Bodily, who got the assist on the goal by Damus, received a short pass from teammate Elliot Collier and placed the ball in the back of the net with his left foot. San Diego Loyal now finds itself on top of the western conference standings with six points after two games with its next match coming on March 25 against the Sacramento Republic before a rematch with Phoenix Rising on April 1 in Arizona.
San Diego Sockers
Having already clinched a playoff spot after its most recent victory on March 17, the San Diego Sockers came out with a 7-3 win over the Empire Strykers on Sunday night at Pechanga Arena San Diego, which earned the team the MASL Supporters Shield for a second-straight year. After being down 3-1, the Sockers scored the final six goals including outscoring the Strykers 4-0 in the final quarter. The Sockers were led by two goals from forward Tavoy Morgan and midfielder Christian Gutierrez with team captain Kraig Chiles contributing with a goal and three assists. The victory improves the San Diego Sockers to 18-2 overall with only four games left in the regular season three of which will be at home starting with a rematch versus the Strykers on April 24. The Sockers are looking for their third-straight Ron Newman Cup having beaten the Florida Tropics in last year’s final and the Ontario Fury in 2021.
San Diego Wave
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club closed out its preseason matches with a 2-2 draw against Angel City FC over the weekend with both goals coming courtesy of forward Amirah Ali. The game also brought to an end the illustrious career of SD Wave goalkeeper Carly Telford who announced her retirement last week. Telford made several appearances with the team last season in place of Kailen Sheridan and had her most memorable performance on July 15, 2022, when she managed to keep a clean sheet that included a penalty kick save late in the match ending in a scoreless draw versus Racing Louisville. San Diego Wave now gets ready to start the 2023 NWSL regular season versus the Chicago Red Stars on March 25 at Snapdragon Stadium. The last time the two sides met was on Oct. 16 in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs with the Wave coming out on top in overtime 2-1 courtesy of a goal in the 110th minute from forward and 2022 Golden Boot winner Alex Morgan.
Photos courtesy of San Diego Loyal, Eddie Trujillo, and David Frerker.
