Sockers Fall in Overtime 8-7 in Sonora
(February 4, 2017)
The San Diego Sockers faced a hostile environment in Hermosillo, Mexico as they faced MASL Leaders Soles de Sonora. Despite playing the night prior versus Pacific Division rival Tacoma Stars, the Sockers played one of their tightest games of the 2017 season. Unfortunately, the Sockers fell 8-7 to Soles de Sonora in overtime.
Sonora opened the scoring within the first minute, banging a shot off the wall that deflected off Felipe Gonzalez and into the Sockers goal. Frank Tayou and Hiram Ruiz then made it 3-1 for the home team. Sockers responded with a vengeance, scoring three unanswered goals through Erick Tovar, Luan Oliviera, and Brandon Escoto and taking a 4-3 lead into the 2nd quarter.
Soles de Sonora responded with three unanswered goals in the second quarter to match the Sockers 1st period. Soles Ruiz, Enrique Canez and new signing Mauricio Salles scored the 3 for the home squad. Sockers Kraig Chiles and Matt Clare tied the game back up at 6 with less than five minutes left to play in the half.
Enrique Canez broke the deadlock just before the half to take a 7-6 lead with just over a minute to play in the 1st half.
Despite the back and forth action from the first half, the second half proved to be a more cagey affair, which is fitting for the venue. The Hermosillo venue is one of the most intimate in the league and regularly produces double-digit goals from both teams.
The second half produced only one goal, with Sockers Eddie Velez scoring in the 3rd quarter. The two teams constantly trading shots, fouls and blue cards. The tight game continued into the 4th quarter with neither team getting on the score sheet.
Sockers Goalkeeper Boris Pardo faced an incredible 46 shots, saving an equally impressive 38 shots on target (.826 Save Percentage). His heroics in front of goal, especially in the second half, proved why the Sockers have split time between him and Chris Toth.
Overtime came around with both teams pressing for the winner. Sockers almost completed a perfect weekend in the overtime period but it wasn’t to be. The Sockers Achilles heal, Frank Tayou latched on to a loose ball in the final third, shimmied to his left and fired a left footed shot off the post and into the goal.
The overtime goal proved to be the game winner and keep the Soles de Sonora at the top of the MASL standings with a 12-2 record. However, it was the first time that the Soles de Sonora were held to under 10 goals at home.
The San Diego Sockers play their next two games against the winless El Paso Coyotes at home and away on February 10 (away) and February 16 (home).
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