Sockers Announce Semi-Final Dates
The Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) confirmed second-round Ron Newman Cup playoff dates and times on Wednesday, locking in the San Diego Sockers’ playoff timing for their upcoming pursuit of a 17th major indoor championship, and third MASL Ron Newman Cup. San Diego will host either the Kansas City Comets or St. Louis Ambush for the second leg of their second-round series on Sunday, April 19th, at Frontwave Arena, scheduled for a 5:05pm kickoff. If the series is tied at the end of the game, a 15-minute Knockout Game will follow to determine the series winner.
The Ron Newman Cup Playoffs have returned to a best-of-three format for all three rounds of the playoffs. Each team hosts a full 60-minute match on their home field. If the series is tied 1-1 after the two full matches are played, a fifteen-minute third match, known as the “Knockout Game”, is played immediately after Match Two to decide the series. When the Finals are reached, the team with home-field advantage has the option of playing three full games instead of two games and a knockout game. Six teams out of the eight-team field qualified for the postseason, with the top two teams receiving first-round byes. On the other side of the bracket, the 3rd seeded Milwaukee Wave take on the 6th-seeded Empire Strykers, with the winner to play the 2nd-seeded Baltimore Blast.
After enjoying a first-round bye as the MASL Supporters Shield winners (owners of the league’s best record), the Sockers will await the first-round winner between the Comets and the Ambush. The fifth-seeded Comets will host the fourth-seeded Ambush for Match One at Cable Dahmer Arena on Monday, April 6th, with venue shifting to the Family Arena in St. Louis for Match Two on Wedensday, April 8th, with a possible Knockout Game to follow. The second round series will begin with Match One in either Kansas City or St. Louis on Friday, April 17th at 5:05pm PDT. The two clubs will then travel to California for the deciding second leg at Frontwave Arena on Sunday, April 19th at 5:05pm PDT. Tickets are available for all playoff series by visiting frontwavearena.com or sdsockers.com.