Soles sink Sockers 7-3 in San Diego

(March 19, 2017) In a  frustrating night in San Diego, the Soles de Sonora used a combination of fierce defense and quick fire goals to defeat the Sockers 7-3 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. It is only the Sockers second loss at home all season and leaves them with a mountain to climb next weekend in Sonora. 

San Diego created opportunity after opportunity but Sonora Goalkeeper Diego Reynoso was the star of the match with 23 saves and his defense pitched in with 16 blocks. Reynoso played probably his finest game in goal all season, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Soles. 

At the other end, Cristian Segura opened and closed the scoring against Sockers’ keeper Chris Toth with two rasping drives into the roof of the net. Segura's clutch goals quieted the raucous rally, just as the Sockers were streaking forward in search of the all important equalizer. 

"It was a tough game. We had our chances and if we take them early, its a different game. We have a lot of work to do, but we have proven that we can win down there (Hermosillo)." - Chiky Luna, Director of Player Personnel

Enrique Canez also scored two goals for the visitors from Hermosillo. Canez goals were just enough to keep the Sockers from playing their brand of tiki-taka indoor soccer.  

San Diego was able to pull the score back to 4-3 behind two well-taken goals from Erik Tovar, but Segura’s strike with 5:42 left in the 4th prompted San Diego head coach Phil Salvagio to go to the 6th attacker. 

Gustavo Rosales and Franck Tayou rolled in empty netters to secure victory for last year’s MASL runners-up.

Game 2 kicks off Saturday night at 7:05 MT at the CUM in Sonora, Mexico. You can catch all the action live on MASLtv Youtube Channel. 

If the Sockers can repeat its feat of last year and beat Sonora in front of it’s home fans, the mini-game will take place 15 minutes after the conclusion of game 2.