The San Diego Sockers are victorious against Turlock and secure playoff spot
The San Diego Sockers ran rampant with a 10-2 victory over the Turlock Express in front of 3,021 fans at the Valley View Casino Center.
Will the the San Diego Sockers dynasty continue? This win puts the Sockers into the playoffs. When the San Diego Sockers returned to action in 2009 — after a five-year hiatus — did David Pike, Carl Savoia and Phil Salvage imagine such a tough season? Heroes in the arena, Kraig Chiles and his team of talented players are ready for the challenge and look forward to the playoffs.
Playoff bound after all – “There was a small point in the season where the playoffs weren’t guaranteed,” captain Kriag Chiles said. “Now, it’s about fighting for that second seed and making sure we have any advantage we can going into the playoffs.”
Chiles recorded four goals and two assist and Brian Farber added a further three goals and two assists as the Sockers led from start to finish.
The Sockers opened the scoring early as Victor Quiroz swept home his sixth goal of the season following a lay-off from Chiles 1:40 into the contest.
Farber opened his account at the 12:23 mark as he walked in and smashed the ball beyond Edgar Martinez in the Turlock goal.
The Express halved the deficit just 37 seconds later as Adrian Plascencia’s shot took an awkward deflection off a Sockers defender and looped over Jesus Molina.
San Diego used a four goal blitz to pull away in the second quarter.
Farber started the rally by redirecting a Turlock pass that was searching out Martinez into the goal to make the score 3-1.
Fan favorite and new dad Nick Perera was next to get in on the act. The target forward checked to the ball in the center of the arc and received a pass from Enrique Tovar. Perera spun his defender and riffled his shot high past Martinez.
Chiles closed out the half by scoring the next two goals.
The Sockers captain opened the third quarter just as he closed out the second by adding a further two goals as the Sockers stretched their lead to 8-1 heading into the final 15 minutes.
Chiles final goal came off a feed from Farber, and the captain returned the favor 38 seconds into the fourth as he fed Farber who took a touch to settle before completing his hat-trick by slotting the ball beyond Martinez.
Bronil Koochoie scored a consolation goal to make it 9-2 but Eddie Velez scored late on to put the icing on the cake.
“We started well,” Chiles concluded. “We put them on the back foot. We knew we were a superior team and I think at that point it becomes about showing your dominance. Don’t talk about it. Get out there and do it.”
San Diego will close out the regular season at the Valley View Casino Center next Sunday against Dallas with kickoff set for 2:05pm PT.
Depending on other results, the Sockers may need the victory to seal the second seed in the Pacific Division heading into the playoffs.
