SOCKERS TAKE THE EXPRESS TO A 9-0 RECORD WITH 10-1 VICTORY

Balanced scoring and solid goalkeeping extends division lead to five games

Source:  San Diego Sockers

Photo courtesy San Diego Sockers

January 7, 2018 (San Diego) - The 14-time champion San Diego Sockers improved to 9-0 with a 10-1 win over the Turlock Express before 2,652 at Valley View Casino Center. The Sockers, who outscored Turlock 27-4 in the last three contests, have scored eight or more goals in seven of their wins.

For the first time in three matches with Turlock, the Sockers had a comfortable halftime lead of 5-1. The Express had been competitive in the first halves of the last two games against San Diego, but tonight without their leading scorer Ivan Campos they had an uphill battle.

The teams traded opening goals before San Diego notched nine unanswered goals. Captain Kraig Chiles, who opened the scoring at 5:17, paced the Sockers with two goals and two assists. Chiles now has a nine-game point streak.

San Diego’s balanced attack featured two goals each by Matt Clare, Brian Farber and Hiram Ruiz; and single tallies by Raymundo Contreras and Luan Oliveira.

“It was a night not to be selfish,” said Farber. “We made the extra pass and made sure that we spread the ball around to give everyone a piece of the action.”

Goalkeeper Chris Toth won his fourth game of the season and dropped his league-leading GAA to 2.75.

The schedule will get tougher as the Sockers will have four matches in nine days against quality opponents in Tacoma, Ontario, Sonora and Ontario again.

The Sockers are back in action on Friday, January 12, 7:35 p.m., at Valley View Casino Center against longtime rival Tacoma for Military Appreciation Night.