AROUND THE LEAGUE: Week 7

by Joseph Reina

Can you believe we’re already a third of the way through the season? Welcome back to Around The League, your home for numbers and nuance from the past week of action in the Major Arena Soccer League. This weekend, the Milwaukee Wave got the better of their Midwestern Rivals in Kansas City while Tacoma kept it rolling at home, but we’ll begin with the San Diego Sockers, who proved me and many other league analysts completely wrong, earning six points on their East Coast road trip.

San Diego’s Six-Point Roadtrip

The Sockers used their wealth of experience on a taxing road doubleheader this weekend, taking down both Baltimore and Utica. San Diego showed what a championship-caliber team looks like with their backs against the wall, as they navigated the difficulties with aplomb. At this point, should we even be surprised?

            Simply put, yes; this series of results could already be considered season-defining. It would have been more in character for the Sockers of old to go in, get an early lead, and spend the rest of the game managing the clock, converting set pieces, and killing power plays. No, this team did it the hard way. 

The hosts scored first in Baltimore, as they so often do, but after going down 3-0 midway through the second quarter, San Diego and new signing Nick Perera went on a rampage, scoring five straight goals to flip the game on its head, with the 39-year-old veteran accounting for three of those tallies. Though the Blast fought back, a late surge from the visitors restored their advantage and sealed the win, setting the tone for the weekend.

Less than 19 hours after leaving the field in Baltimore, the Sockers were in action again, taking on a rapid and rested Utica team. Eight minutes into the second quarter, Sergio Penal unleashed a howitzer from behind the yellow line for his eighth goal of the season and Utica’s third of the night, putting San Diego squarely behind the eight ball against a team that notoriously leans into the transition game. The three-goal advantage should have been decisive, but the Sockers had other plans. 

Like the night before, San Diego fell behind, and like the night before, they dug deep and went on a run that proved unstoppable. In five minutes, spanning the final two minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second, the Sockers scored four goals, with two coming from their leading points earner this season, Charlie Gonzalez. Neither team found the net in the remainder of the game, which should be a testament to San Diego’s incredible defensive effort down the stretch. They limited Utica’s shooting chances, especially in transition, as they earned all three points for the second straight day.

They’re the third team to attempt this Baltimore-Utica doubleheader weekend, but the first to win both games, with Kansas City and Milwaukee earning just one and two points, respectively. Those three teams currently occupy the top three spots in the standings with just two points separating the triad after the Wave’s tense win over the Comets on Sunday. 

What makes it more interesting is that both San Diego and Kansas City will travel to Milwaukee this weekend, knowing they could end the weekend top of the table come Sunday night. Add in Tacoma traveling to Kansas City on Friday night, and we might just have a four-way MASL Shield race on our hands.

The Wave will host the Sockers at the UWM Panther Arena on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7:05 PM EST, before “welcoming” the Comets the following day at 3:05 PM EST.

Emphatic Empire Halts Two-Faced Tacoma

Heading into Thursday’s contest between Empire and Tacoma, it was clear one team would exercise some early-season demons, while the other would have some questions to answer. For the Stars, it was performing on the road, but for the Strykers, it was turning solid performances into wins.

            Since downing San Diego on opening night, Empire had lost five straight, with three of those losses coming by just one goal. They’re outshooting their opponents, containing defensively, and retaining possession. The Strykers boast one of the best defenses in the league, holding opponents to just four goals per game with the fewest shots against and the third-lowest GPS. Their defense didn’t cost them these wins; their chance creation and finishing did. 

It’s often seen as good advice to avoid your weaknesses and play to your strengths, but against Tacoma, the Strykers did the opposite. They turned the game on its head, scoring in transition, off the boards, and with set pieces. Coach Onua Obasi’s system prioritizes possession, but they’ve finally shown that they have a second look.

Playing in transition will make them more versatile and better able to adapt to different opponents and game situations. This first regulation win of the season keeps them within striking distance of 6th-place St. Louis, especially after the Ambush fell to the Stars in a shootout on Sunday night. 

          Tacoma’s home winning streak remains intact after a dramatic comeback win that saw Nani Mendoza equalize with just 3.3 seconds remaining. A scoreless overtime period gave way to a scoreless first three shootout attempts, allowing Stars forward Micheal Ramos to play the hero, guiding the ball past Paulo Nascimento in goal to complete the comeback.

            This two-point swing keeps St. Louis in 6th place, while pushing Tacoma into the top half of the standings, just two points behind Milwaukee and San Diego with a game in hand. For the Ambush, it’s yet another moment that could have easily gone the other way, and come the end of the season, these dropped points could prove massive. 

           On Friday, Jan. 16, St. Louis will host Empire, knowing a win would put daylight between the two sides and push them above the Blast in 5th. For Empire, it’s an opportunity to even the score after the Ambush beat them at home last month. More importantly, they need to avoid the gap growing to nine points. Kickoff from the Family Arena is scheduled for 8:05 PM EST.

            For Tacoma, it’s a third away-day this season, with significant implications for both sides. The Stars will hit the road to face league-leading Kansas City, with just four points separating the two sides. Tacoma will look to put in a good display away from home, a feat they’ve not accomplished yet. Three points would be good enough for second in the table, at least for the night, before Milwaukee and San Diego face off the following day. Tune in to see the Stars take on the Comets on Friday, Jan. 16, at 8:05 PM EST.