by Craig on December 28, 2009
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: Continue Reading →
DEL MAR–The Sockers welcomed back two teammates from injury prior to Saturday night’s game against the Denver Dynamite, including the fledgling team’s elder statesman. 41-year-old Sean “Tower of Power” Bowers, a three time MISL defender of the year who has been coaching women’s soccer for the past few years, made his return to the field a memorable one, scoring as part of a seven-goal second quarter that lifted San Diego to an easy 15-5 victory at Del Mar Arena.
The Sockers (6-0, 5-0 PASL-Pro) had been winning without their veteran defender, but with Bowers and Diego Rivera back in the lineup, a deep team gained even more talent. Rivera scored twice, and PASL-leading goal scorer Kraig Chiles added four more tallies, giving him 13 goals in 6 games.
For Bowers, who had missed the start of the season with a knee injury, it was a great feeling to be back out on the pitch:
“Sometimes you think that at age 41, you can’t compete, so it was a good feeling to know I still can do it.”
After trailing 2-1 early in the first quarter, Sockers’ coach Phil Salvagio called a timeout and San Diego responded immediately. A brilliant solo goal by another grizzled Sockers’ vet, 40-year-old Paul Wright, knotted the score at two. In the second quarter, San Diego exploded for seven unanswered goals. Aaron Susi (2 goals, 2 assists) scored on a beautiful setup from Wright, then it was Susi setting up Bowers for his goal from straightaway.
Read more and hear an interview with Sean Bowers after the jump: Continue Reading →
