San Diego Sockers Close Out Regular Season with 3-1 Win over Fury
Chris Toth made twelve saves and carried a shutout bid deep into the fourth quarter as the San Diego Sockers (16-4) wrapped up a perfect regular season at home with a 3-1 victory over the Ontario Fury. A crowd of 4,096 saw Jeff Hughes, Mike Mercuriali and Nick Perera net goals for the Sockers, who scored twice off set pieces in a defensive and tactical game.
“Guys worked hard and our effort has been outstanding,” said Hughes, who finished a 30+ point season for the fifth time in his career, “We’re committing to defending and not giving up a goal. We got some key goals on restarts and those will be key in the playoffs.”
With top Sockers striker Kraig Chiles having to sit out a one-game suspension for card accumulation, and Ontario resting top attackers Tiguinho and Tino Nunez, the result was the lowest-scoring game in the six year history of Sockers-3. The four combined goals matched the lowest total in the Major Arena Soccer League this year.
“When you preach defense so much and work on it so hard, you commit to it and the other team does too,” said head coach Phil Salvagio, “Chris (Toth) has stepped up, and the team defended well. We had some good chances but just didn’t have the finish tonight.”
But while the scoreline was lower than expected, the precision and intensity on the field remained high level between both Pacific Division rivals. The Sockers blocked eleven shots on the night and the Fury (13-7), often packing the box defensively, blocked twelve. Toth made several key saves in the second quarter to keep Ontario off the board, including a combination save, first guarding a near post attempt, then staying in position to pull a rebound header off the line.
Earning Man of the Match honors for the second straight home game, Toth earned praise for his consistent positioning, calm handling of the ball with his feet and efficient distributions.
“It’s very important,” said Toth, “You make the saves look easy when you’re in position. You might make a wild save, but it’s because you weren’t where you need to be.”
The Sockers waited until the game’s fifteenth minute to light up the scoreboard, as Jeff Hughes finished a near corner kick setup from Chiky Luna for his fifteenth goal of the season. The 1-0 lead held all the way through halftime thanks to Toth’s dexterity in goal, and solid track-back from the San Diego defensive corps and midfielders.
“The defenders are really stepping up,” said Toth, “They’re laying out, blocking shots, and that’s what we need the rest of the season.”
Defender Mike Mercuriali, who went two full seasons without a goal, now has an active goal-scoring streak longer than his teammate from college and the pros Kraig Chiles. After the Sockers controlled the ball and the attack for several minutes of the third quarter, only to be denied by the post or blocked shot, Mercuriali (SDSU) received an over-the-shoulder tip of a loose ball from Anthony Medina and slotted home his third goal of the year and second in as many games.
The Sockers finished a second set piece to close out their scoring, as Nick Perera continued the night’s theme of crushing a shot off the post. The difference was, Perera’s free kick from the far left mid-boards hit the edge of the far post behind goalkeeper Piotr Sliwa (16 saves) and into the opposite side netting for his 27th goal of the year.
The Fury went to six attackers with 7:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, only to see San Diego maintain possession for well over three minutes. Jamar Beasley and Isreal Sesay were able at last to team up on a combination play from right wing, with Beasley’s give-and-go pass finding Sesay in the crease. Toth got down but was unable to deflect the rolling shot, which ended the dreams of his first career pro indoor shutout.
“That one will haunt me for a while,” said Toth after the game with a rueful smile.
The Sockers, who capped off a perfect 10-0 home season, now await the winner of the MASL Pacific semi-final game between the Fury and Las Vegas Legends, to be played on Sunday, March 1st in Ontario. The winner will advance to face the Sockers in the Pacific Division championship game on Saturday, March 7th. Tickets are now available for purchase at (866) 799-GOAL, online at sockers.com, or at the Valley View Casino Center box office.
