Sockers look to Bring Stars Down to Earth
(December 1, 2016) In one of the Major Arena Soccer League’s most anticipated matches of the 2016-17 season, the San Diego Sockers will host the Tacoma Stars. Currently, the teams are 1st and 2nd in the Pacific Division, have two of the league’s best goalkeepers, and will be looking to assert their early season title credentials.
The action kicks off Friday December 2 at 7:35pm at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, CA.
San Diego is 2-0 at home and will be relieved to be back home after a four game road trip over the last three weeks. Tacoma is on a 3 game winning streak, but will face a stern test against the Sockers’ high flying offense (45 goals) and division leading defense (4.7 Goals Against Average). The Sockers lead the division in Goal Differential at +18, second only to Soles de Sonora in the entire MASL.
Last week, Max Touloute and Matt Clare put on a masterclass display, earning them Team of the Week honors. Touloute scored 5 goals and had 1 assist, while Clare had 4 assists and was credited 2 goals. Touloute is second on the team in goals (8) and consistently causes problems for opposing defenses. Clare leads the league in assists (10) and will be looking to be dangerous in front of goal.
Sockers Captain Kraig Chiles continues to score goals week after week. Chiles is currently tied for second in the MASL with 11 goals to go along with his 3 assists, making him 2nd overall in Total Points (14). Kraig Chiles (292) only needs 6 more goals to tie all-time Sockers Goal Scorer Branko Segota (298). As he has proved throughout his career, his nose for goal is superhuman.
In a gesture of solidarity with the global soccer community, the Sockers have confirmed that there will be a moment of silence for the victims of the plane crash in Colombia, which included the majority of Brazilian First Division team, Associação Chapecoense de Futebol. The tragic accident claimed 71 lives and shocked the global soccer community.
Things to Watch:
#37 Kraig Chiles – Sockers captain is 6 goals aways from tying the all-time Sockers scoring record held by Branko Segota. Will Chiles add to his career tally on a night featuring one of the best defensive teams in the MASL?
The Return Of Defender Evan McNeley – Last season, McNeley played for the Sockers and was a fan favorite of Sockers fans. In the offseason he returned to his native Pacific Northwest to join the Stars in a title bid.
GK Chris Toth (Sockers) vs GK Danny Waltman (Stars) – Two of the league’s best face off. Waltman was recently named MASL Goalkeeper of the Month after last season’s MASL Goalkeeper of the Year award. Meanwhile, Chris Toth has twice been named to the MASL Team of the Week as the league’s best goalkeeper. Which goalkeeper will claim the winning honors this week?
Make sure to follow @SanDiegoSockers on social media for the latest new, images and updates about the team! Don’t forget to catch all MASL games on the new MASLtv YouTube channel.
Link to the MASL Youtube Live Stream: Watch Here