DEL MAR–Paul Wright’s hat trick helped the San Diego Sockers fend off their developmental squad the San Diego Fusion 10-6 at the Del Mar Arena. The two teams were meeting as part of the U.S. Open Cup, a nationwide tournament open to all indoor soccer teams in the country. The Sockers (7-0) now advance to face Estadio Azteca in the Open Cup quarterfinals on Sunday at 1:15pm at the Del Mar Arena.
The Fusion earned the right to play the Sockers by defeating ASC Hammers out of Phoenix in the round of 32, creating an fraternal battle between the big brother Sockers and their developmental and practice squad.
At first, it looked like the big brothers were going to bully the Fusion off the field. The Sockers scored a pair of goals in the first period, as the Fusion crouched back in a defensive posture, rarely if ever challenging the ball. Anthony Medina’s 8th of the year was followed by Aaron Susi’s 12th, and it was 2-0 Sockers after one.
Read more and hear from the Sockers’ Kraig Chiles and Anthony Medina after the jump:
The second period saw an eight-goal eruption by the Sockers, including a flurry of four goals in the first three minutes. That led Fusion coach Ray Taila (normally the Sockers’ assistant coach) to call timeout and air out his team on the field. The Fusion gave up two more goals before the period was over, Kraig Chiles’ team leading 16th and 17th, but showed some more spark on the pitch.
Postgame Interview: Kraig Chiles
Then came the second half. Sockers’ coach Phil Salvagio rested Paul Wright and swapped out goalkeeper Riley Swift for backup Tim Edwards. Just nine seconds into the third, Amir Vafee beat Edwards one-on-one to put the Fusion on the scoreboard. Three more Fusion goals would follow in the third, cutting the lead in half.
By the time Vafee netted his second goal of the game, beating Edwards up close, the game was 8-6 and far too close for the Sockers’ comfort. Salvagio returned Wright to the field and Swift to the goal, and the Sockers settled down from there.
Nate Heatherington, set up beautifully by Wright on the power play, made it 9-6 Sockers at the 10:05 mark of the third period and the Sockers defended from there. Wright’s empty-netter with 18 seconds remaining gave him the hat trick and closed out the scoring.
Postgame interview: Anthony Medina
The Sockers return to PASL-Pro league action on Wednesday night against Revolucion Tijuana in Del Mar, then host the defending league champs California on Saturday evening, before returning to Open Cup quarterfinal play against Estadio Azteca on Sunday afternoon. All three games will be at the Del Mar Arena; for ticket information, visit SDSockers.com.
SOCKERS 10, FUSION 6
Sockers Scoring
Wright 3 (6,7,8)
Susi 2 (12, 13)
Chiles 2 (16, 17)
Medina 2 (8, 9)
Heatherington (3)
Fusion Scoring
Vafee 2
E. O’Connor 2
Tony V 1
Bartolota 1
Craig Elsten -
Chainsaw -
