Sockers Top El Paso in San Diego
The Sockers defeated El Paso Coyotes in San Diego on Sunday with a comeback victory in front of their home supporters. The Sockers overcame another sluggish start to improve to 8-1, and take a three-game lead in the MASL’s Pacific Division.
MASL Soccer News: The San Diego Sockers recorded their second win over the weekend with a 7-4 victory over El Paso Coyotes on Sunday evening at Ron Newman Field at Pechanga Arena. Kraig Chiles and Brian Farber each recorded two goals and one assist to lead San Diego. 
San Diego kicked off the match with another slow start, as El Paso took a 2-0 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter. It was the third consecutive home match that the Sockers allowed the first goal and also failed to find the back of the net in the opening quarter.
Chiles, who has an eight-game point streak, scored the opener for the Sockers with his team-high 12th goal at 12:08 of the second quarter. He redirected a pass from Guerrero Pino inside the penalty box past El Paso goalkeeper Eduardo Arevalo Gonzalez. Two minutes later, Chiles’ shot off the boards was finished by Farber who was waiting against the boards next to the goal. The teams were level at halftime.
The only goal of the third period was courtesy of Leonardo De Oliveira to give San Diego its first lead. Brandon Escoto was credited with the assist.
The teams traded goals in the fourth quarter until Escoto gave San Diego a two-goal lead with under three minutes left in the game. Luis Ortega finished the scoring against the sixth-attacker to increase his goal streak to two matches.
League-leading goalkeeper Boris Pardo, who saved a first-period shootout attempt by Rios, stopped 15 shots from El Paso for his eighth victory. Coyotes’ goalkeeper Gonzalez tallied 25 saves in the loss.
San Diego plays twice this week, first in Tacoma on Friday, January 18, 7:05 p.m. PT and then returning home to meet Turlock Express on Sunday, January 20, 5:05 p.m. PT at Ron Newman Field at Pechanga Arena San Diego.
Photo Credit: San Diego Sockers
