M2 Update // Sockers2 Prove To Be Best In The West

By Brian Ackley, M2soccer.com

The San Diego Sockers 2 are following in the footsteps of their parent Major Arena Soccer League team.

The Sockers 2 took control of the M2 Western Division over the weekend by sweeping a pair of close games at previously unbeaten RGV to improve to 7-1 on the season. Their big club is the only team without a regulation loss so far this season in the MASL, and is in first place in that league’s Western Division as well.

San Diego followed a 6-5 overtime win on Saturday with an 8-6 decision on Sunday.

The Sockers scored late in the fourth to tie it and then got the game-winner from Kevin Alves in overtime. Ivan Martinez led RGV with two goals.

Ismael Rojo, Jason Payne, and Alan Crespo all scored twice for San Diego in the second game. Jose Martinez got two goals for RGV.

Chicago gave the Crunch a weekend scare, but defending champion Cleveland improved to 9-0 on the season with identical wins of 10-6 in the Windy City.

On Saturday, it was the Mike Derezic and Admir Suljevic show as each pumped in five goals to break open a close game. Chicago had a 2-1, and was within 5-4  at halftime, but Cleveland scored four of the game’s next five goals. Miguel Vaca and Rolando Rojas had two goals each for the Mustangs.

On Sunday, the Crunch spread the scoring out a little more evenly, jumping out to a 5-0 lead before Chicago scored four straight to again be within 5-4, but again it was as close as they were to get. Michael Marchionna and Vaca each had two goals for Chicago, which fell to 2-7, while Derezic had three goals and Suljevic two. 

Muskegon (5-5) solidified its hold on the second playoff spot in the Eastern Division, and improved to 5-5 with a 15-7 win over the BC Swerve, outshooting the Cincinnati visitors by a 33-13 margin before a big crowd at Mercy Health Arena. 

It was a 3-2 game after 15 minutes, but the Risers scored the game’s next eight goals to pull away.  Aldony Mendez led the way for the hosts with four goals while Miguel Flores, Brandon Dinsmore, and James Dutcher added two each. Abou Algabri had two for the Swerve (1-5). 

Amarillo (4-5) went on the road and picked up an important win in Colorado, 9-7, over a game Inferno (1-8) side.  The Bombers got a hat trick from David Trevizo, a four-point night from Vitor Patriani (goal and three assists), and two goals from Julio Molina.

Amarillo raced to a 5-1 lead before the Inferno delighted their Colorado Springs fan base by rallying to take a 7-6 lead on a goal by Franciso Rivas, his fourth of the night. 

But the Bombers got the only three goals of the final 15 minutes to secure the win. 

Turlock (2-4) opened the weekend with a 7-5 win over Ontario Fury 2 (2-4) as the two teams combined for 90 shots on goal. Jorge Carmona and Jose Antonio Balderas had two goals each for the Express who improved to x-x while leading Ontario’s offense was Hugo Magana with a two-goal night.