SOCKERS DOUSE FURY 8-5 IN PRESEASON GAME

The San Diego Sockers defeated the Ontario Fury 8-5 in a preseason Major Arena Soccer League match at Citizens Business Bank Arena. San Diego was led by Erick Tovar’s four goals and solid goalkeeping by Chris Toth.

Sockers captain Kraig Chiles opened the scoring 1:20 into the contest on a direct free kick from the top of the box. San Diego controlled most of the quarter, but with 24 seconds remaining, Ontario used their own free kick goal by Jinho Kim off a short pass from Israel Seay to tie the game at 1-1.

San Diego’s Erick Tovar took over the second period with two tallies in under four minutes apart. The first was off a tipped pass from Juan Topete at the top of the box which he slotted past Fury goalkeeper Jose Miranda. He then hit a laser shot past Topete after receiving a simple ball fromPeeWee Ortega to extend San Diego’s lead. Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth was not busy, but did come up big three times in the half on point-blank shots to preserve the advantage.

Ontario cut into the Sockers lead at 3:06 in the third period on a goal by Adrian Perez that was deflected by Toth. San Diego regained momentum with two quick goals to increase their lead to 6-2. Tovar notched a hat trick at the 9:21 mark after Fury goalkeeper Adrian Topete misplayed the ball off the wall, Tovar tapped the ball into the open goal. Eddie Velez scored his first goal off a short pass from Matt Clare at the top of the box at 10:31 of the third. The Fury would not go away as they again scored on a goal by Douglas Lima.

Free agent goalkeeper Austin Guerrero took over for Toth to start the fourth. After Felipe Gonzalez was called for tripping, Ontario wasted no time at all on the power play with a goal by Chico Cordiero to come within one of the Sockers.

Playing against some adversity, San Diego put the game away with two goals in the middle of the final period. Star of the game Tovar finished his scoring explosion with his fourth of the evening. His marker was followed by a Matt Clare goal on an assist from Cesar Cerda.

San Diego opens the season on the road in El Paso on Thursday night, 6:35 pm, MASL.TV, before returning to Valley View Casino Center to face Syracuse in their home opener on Sunday, November 5, 5:05 pm.