MASL Game Preview: Sockers vs Coyotes

(San Diego, CA - February 9th, 2017)

The San Diego Sockers start the last quarter of the 2016-17 Major Arena Soccer League season with back-to-back games against the winless expansion team El Paso Coyotes. The Sockers can (almost) clinch a playoff berth with two wins against the Coyotes. On Friday, February 10th, the Sockers travel to face the Coyotes in El Paso at 6:35pm PST.

The San Diego Sockers are coming off their most challenging weekend of the season. The Sockers did well to overwhelm the Tacoma Stars and win convincingly 9-3 at home. The next day morning, the Sockers traveled to Hermosillo, Mexico to face league leading Soles de Sonora. In heartbreaking fashion, the Sockers fell 8-7 in Overtime to Soles de Sonora, but took home some positives. The Sockers were the first team to keep the Soles under 10 goals at home, force overtime and did so after playing a tough divisional game the night before. 

"Last weekend was tough, but you have to move on and take it game by game. We're going to go out there (in El Paso) and show that we're a playoff ready team."  - Ray Taila, Assistant Coach

The El Paso Coyotes also last their last game in heartbreaking fashion. Searching for their first ever win, the Coyotes lost in overtime to Southwest division rival Atletico Baja 6-5 at home. A positive result against the 14 time arena champions would be a feather in the cap of new Coyotes coach Jose Luis Trevino.

Last time the Sockers faced El Paso was November 26 with the Sockers winning convincingly 12 – 6 in El Paso. Forward Max Touloute was the star of the night, recording 5 goals and 1 assist on the night. Sockers GK Boris Pardo earned his second win of the season. After Pardo’s impressive 38 save night vs Soles de Sonora, he will be hoping to start his second consecutive game.

The Coyotes are led offensively by Forward David Salas (14 goals, 4 assists, 18 points), followed by Midfielders Omar Ledesma (11 goals, 4 assists, 15 points) and Daniel Frias (11 goals, 7 assists, 18 points).

The Sockers are led by Captain Kraig Chiles’ 34 points (26 goals, 8 assists), Matt Clare (15 goals, 15 assists) and Max Touloute (16 goals, 8 assists). Chiles is looking to continue his free scoring while Touloute will look to repeat his performance against the Coyotes. Matt Clare will be a notable absence while he serves a 1 game suspension for his sending off in Sonora last weekend.

You can catch all the Sockers game live on MASLtv YoutubeLive Stream Here vs El Paso Coyotes starting at 6:30pm! Make sure to follow San Diego Sockers on social media @sandiegosockers on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat! #Questfor15