Sockers Add Pair For MASL Stretch Run

The San Diego Sockers, presented by Kaiser Permanente, today announced the acquisition via a loan of forward Tavoy Morgan from the Harrisburg Heat; separately, the club also acquired via loan defender Ben Ramin from Utica City FC. Both loans are for the current 2021 Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) season, and both players will be available for selection starting Saturday in Ontario. 

“We’re approaching the playoffs, and we have a couple of areas of need,” said director of player personnel Chiky Luna, “We believe Tavoy and Ben can make a difference for us down the stretch and in the Ron Newman Cup playoffs.”

Morgan, 26, is in his third season in the MASL, having spent the first two years of his career with the Harrisburg Heat. In 2019-20, Morgan (5’9”, 180 lbs) featured in 13 games for the Heat, scoring (19-5=24) points, including four power-play goals and two game-winning goals. In 2018-19, Morgan was named to the MASL All-Rookie team, accruing (23-10=33) points in 24 matches. He previously appeared for the Elm City Express in the NPSL. A native of Spanish Town, Jamaica, Morgan owns a career .344 shooting percentage in the league. 

Ramin, 27, enters his fifth season in the MASL, having played the past two years for Utica City FC, and the two years prior for the Syracuse Silver Knights. A collegiate player at the University of New Hampshire, Ramin (6’2”, 175) in 2019-20 played in 20 matches for UCFC, netting (3-7=10) points with 8 blocked shots. In his career, Ramin has featured in 72 matches, with (24-18=42) points and 52 blocks. His career-best totals came in 2017-18 with Syracuse, scoring (11-7=18) points with 21 blocks in 22 matches played. 

The Sockers (3-4) have three matches remaining in the MASL regular season before the Ron Newman Cup playoffs, in which all seven currently participating teams will be in the playoff bracket. San Diego travels to the Inland Empire this weekend, facing off against the Ontario Fury on Saturday evening, before turning around to take on the Tacoma Stars in a neutral-site affair from Ontario on Sunday afternoon. Both matches are closed to the public due to county COVID restrictions, but will be available for viewing via MASL Pay-per-View on Facebook. Go to facebook.com/MASLsoccer/events to sign up.