The San Diego Sockers have started the season with four-straight wins after defeating the Dallas Sidekicks 8-7 in Texas on Saturday followed by a 7-3 victory over the Empire Strykers on Sunday at Pechanga Arena San Diego.

The Sockers got a couple of hat-tricks from Tavoy Morgan and Brandon Escoto as Morgan scored the game-winner late in the fourth quarter off a beautiful assist from Leonardo De Oliveira. The 2022 MASL goalkeeper of the year Boris Pardo was then able to keep the Sidekicks at bay in the final minutes.

The Sockers returned home to the friendly confines of Pechanga Arena San Diego the following day and were led by the two goals of captain Kraig Chiles and two more from Cesar Cerda to come out on top against the Strykers. The game started with a defensive tone as neither team could find the back of the net in the first quarter with Chiles opening up the scoring early in the second off a penalty kick conversion. The San Diego Sockers went on to extend the lead to 3-0 before the Strykers were able to score their first goal of the match and then managed to make it a one-goal game late in the third quarter before San Diego ended up closing strong with three-straight goals.

The Sockers now lead the Western Conference and have a +13 goal differential having scored the most goals in the conference with 35 despite having played one less match than the second-place Mesquite Outlaws who have 34 goals scored. San Diego will next play at home on Dec. 30 versus the Tacoma Stars which will be the third meeting between the two sides this season.

Photo by David Frerker