The 16-time champion San Diego Sockers punched its ticket to the MASL Western Division finals after dramatic back-to-back wins over the Texas Outlaws on Monday night at Pechanga Arena San Diego. After losing game one on the road 6-4 to the Outlaws on Saturday at Mesquite Arena, the Sockers were forced to win game two to play a third and decisive 15-minute game three. That is exactly what the team, led by head coach Phil Salvagio, was able to accomplish in front of the home fans after taking game two 8-3 and shutting out the visitors 4-0 in game three.

“We know that we were going to have opportunities and create chances,” said Sockers goalkeeper Boris Pardo. “It’s the depth, the quality, and the fight the guys have. It’s an amazing group where everyone puts their bodies on the line. Everyone defended and showed up when we had to.”

The Sockers will now take on a familiar foe in defending champion Chihuahua Savage for a trip to the Ron Newman Cup final. The two teams need no introduction since it was Chihuahua that upset San Diego in the semifinal round last season and took all three games this regular season as well.

Just like the Sockers, the Savage also needed three games to make it to the Western Division final after dropping game one to the Tacoma Stars 6-5, but bounced back and won the next two at home. Despite the Chihuahua winning all the meetings during the regular season, San Diego was still able to finish on top of the division standings with an 18-6 record, which was just ahead of the Savage at 16-7-1. San Diego will have home-field advantage with the first meeting taking place at Corner Sports Arena in Chihuahua, Mexico on April 18 with game two (and possibly game three) at Pechanga Arena San Diego on April 21.