MASL SEMIFINALS: San Diego blasts Baltimore to reach Ron Newman Cup finals
- Dan Stickradt
- Apr 9
- 2 min read
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
OCEANSIDE, Calif. – After finishing just two points behind the Chihuahua Savage in the Major Arena Soccer League regular season, the San Diego Sockers will get one final rematch with the Savage.
This time it will be on the grand stage.
Second-seeded San Diego remained undefeated on its home field, Frontwave Arena just outside of San Diego, with a resounding 11-3 triumph Sunday night over the third-seeded Baltimore Blast.
The Sockers (22-4-0) will face top-seeded and MASL Shield winners Chihuahua (22-4-0) in the MASL Ron Newman Cup Championship April 13 at 5 p.m. at the Frontwave Arena.
San Diego is now 14-0-0 at home this season, 2-0 in the postseason and 12-0-0 in the regular season.
The Sockers never trailed Sunday, broke a 1-1 tie in the first with a 3-0 run and after the Blast closed to within 4-3, San Diego scored once more in the second quarter and then outscored Baltimore 6-0 in the second half. The Sockers closed with a 5-0 run in the fourth frame to close out the semifinals clash.
Christian Gutierrez led San Diego with the hat trick, while Gabriel Costa had two goals and an assist and Kraig Chiles chipped in with the brace to lead the Sockers, who will be making their first finals appearance since 2022.
Leonardo De Oliveira added a goal and two assists, Charlie Gonzales followed with a goal and an assist, and Sebastian Mendez and Luiz Morales also scored for the winners. Tavoy Morgan contributed two assists and both Sebastian Mendez, Cesar Cenda and Luis Ortega followed with one helper apiece.
Boris Pardo recorded six saves in nine chances and was relieved by Danny Waltman for the final 3:19.
It was the foot of Luiz Morales that gave San Diego a 4-1 lead just 2:19 into the second quarter which later proved to be the game-winner for the Sockers.
Victor Parreiras, Juan Pereira and Chad Poarch scored for Baltimore, the latter scored to close the gap down to 4-3 at the 5:12 mark of the second frame. Baltimore would not score again, as the Blast finished 17-8-1.
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