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By Nick Pellegrino
Photo: El Paso forward Arturo Vega (15) delectes the ball, but it's blocked by a pair of San Diego defenders in support of winning goalie Boris Pardo. Courtesy El Paso Coyotes
November 3, 2017 (El Paso) -- The 14-time indoor champion San Diego Sockers opened the 2017-18 season on the road against the El Paso Coyotes, a second-year franchise that went winless in all 20 contests last season.
You know which team won.
The Sockers rode a 5-point performance by captain Kraig Chiles, who tallied two goals and three assists to down the highly-improved Coyotes, 9-5, at El Paso County Coliseum.
El Paso (1-1) fueled by a half-dozen players from the Tijuana-based Atletico Baja franchise which is taking the season off to reorganize, the Coyotes won its season opener earlier in the week. Still, they were never in the game against the Sockers.
FROM SOCKERS ORESS RELEASE:
The first period featured frenetic action as both teams created quality chances. The Sockers broke through first on a goal by Erick Tovar from the side of the goal near the boards. El Paso answered quickly on a goal by Omar Tapia.
San Diego’s newest addition Raymundo Contreras notched his first goal off an assist from Kraig Chiles to provide a short-lived 2-1 lead. The Coyotes again responded in a fast manner when Hugo Puentes tallied from Alex Carces.
Early in the second period, Cesar Cerda took a pass down the middle from goalkeeper Boris Pardo and slotted a shot past the Coyotes goalkeeper for a 3-2 lead. The Sockers extended their lead to 4-2 on a Matt Clare goal on Chiles’ second assist. Chiles converted a penalty kick after the Coyotes committed a foul in the penalty box. His first goal of the year was a bullet down the middle for a three-goal advantage.
Tapia scored his second goal of the match only 45 seconds into the third period off Sockers’ turnover in the midfield to get the Coyotes going. El Paso’s Christian Gutierrez took advantage of another Sockers turnover by Luan Oliveria and put his shot past goalkeeper Pardo to make the score 5-4.
San Diego reclaimed a two-goal margin when Ray Reza took a free-kick pass from Chiles at the top of the box and notched his first goal of the season. Minutes later, Oliveria atoned for his earlier defensive mistake after he collected a Chiles pass that allowed him to score his first marker of the year.
San Diego reclaimed a two-goal margin when Ray Reza took a free-kick pass from Chiles at the top of the box and notched his first goal of the season. Minutes later, Oliveria atoned for his earlier defensive mistake after he collected a Chiles pass that allowed him to score his first marker of the year.
El Paso did not quit as Jorge Ruiz scored an unassisted goal to start the fourth period.. However Chiles, the Sockers captain, gave the team a three-goal lead off an assist from Tovar for his second of the game. San Diego added an empty net unassisted goal by Hiram Ruiz to seal the 9-5 victory.
San Diego returns to the Valley View Casino Center on Sunday against the Syracuse Silver Knights. It will be the home opener and Cancer Awareness Night. The first 3,000 fans will receive a free schedule magnet. Free parking and the gates open at 3:30 p.m.; kickoff is at 5:05 p.m.
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