Frontwave Credit Union First Look // at MIL & KC

The San Diego Sockers-presented by Kaiser Permanente San Diego-continue their final road trip of the 2023-24 MASL regular season, traveling to the Midwest for a pair of back-to-back matches this weekend against two Eastern Division playoff clubs, the Milwaukee Wave and the Kansas City Comets. Kickoff on Friday is set for 4:35pm from the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is set for 4:35pm and will be televised on Twitch channel @masl_soccer. Saturday night’s match is scheduled for a 4:05pm first kick, and will also stream on Twitch channel @masl_soccer, simulcast in Spanish on canela.tv. 

The Sockers (17-4, 49 points), owners of the best record in MASL history all-time at 166-35-5, have clinched the Western Division regular season crown with three matches left to play. The 22-0 Monterrey Flash have clinched the MASL Supporters Shield for the best regular-season record in the league, so San Diego has nothing but pride, health and form to play for in the final three matches of the regular season. The Sockers are 62-6-1 over the past 69 matches (.899 win percentage).

The Sockers and Milwaukee Wave are meeting for the only time this season. The Sockers are 6-5 in the all-time series against Milwaukee, and 3-1 in the MASL. San Diego and Kansas City lock boots for the second and final time this season. The Comets stunned the Sockers at home on February 25, posting a 9-4 victory, the most lopsided home loss in San Diego’s modern history. The two franchises have a series history dating back to 1982-83 in the MISL, continuing since the formation of the MASL in 2014. The all-time series record favors San Diego 37-22, including a 4-0 all-time playoff series record. In the MASL, Kansas City is 4-2 against the Sockers.

Last weekend, San Diego clinched the West with an 11-5 win over the Empire Strykers at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. Tavoy Morgan netted a hat trick, Charlie Gonzalez had two goals and two assists and Kraig Chiles added a goal with three assists in the high-scoring win. The Sockers completed a six-match series sweep of the Strykers, improving to 9-1 on the road this season. 

Milwaukee (15-5-2, 44 points) is trying to hold off UCFC and Kansas City to hold onto the second spot in the Eastern Division standings, holding a two-point edge over both clubs (UCFC has one match in hand). The Wave enter the weekend on a five-match winning streak, and are 9-0-2 at home this season. Milwaukee averages 6.8 goals-per-contest. Ian Bennett leads the Wave with 22 goals and 27 points. William Banahene sports a 13-4-2 record in 20 starts in net, with a 5.02 GAA and .722 SV%. 

Kansas City (13-6-4, 42 points) has clinched a playoff berth in the Eastern Division, and plays their final match of the regular season on Saturday night. The Comets are 7-1-3 at Cable Dahmer Arena and lead the MASL in attendance with an average of 4,772. Kansas City’s Zach Reget leads the MASL in goals (31) and points (45) coming into the weekend. Goalkeeper Nicolau Neto is 13-3-4 with a 4.66 GAA and .749 SV%.