Players went down and other players stepped up when it mattered.
It wasn’t your typical San Diego Sockers game on multiple fronts. But they got the job done thanks to fourth-quarter heroics from defender Mitchell Cardenas and midfielder Felipe Gonzalez.
When Tavoy Morgan and Charlie Gonzalez left the game early in the second quarter and didn’t return, it showed the lack of depth the Sockers truly have. Kraig Chiles was also dealing with an injury and didn’t see the playing time he would usually see despite him being one of just two forwards left after Morgan exited.
The other listed forward on the Sockers roster is Juan Salazar, straight out of the 2023 College Draft from Point Loma Nazarene. He was drafted in December and signed on January 12. He also hasn’t seen much of a workload yet.
Instead, Tuesday night saw midfielders Leonardo De Oliveira, Christian Gutierrez and Felipe play a more offensive role than they had in games in the past.
The Sockers needed production from the rest of their team, and production they got.
Down one in the fourth quarter, Cardenas took a pass from De Oliveira, found a hole in the middle of the Texas defense, and struck it straight into the net untouched.
CARDENAS FROM DISTANCE TO TIE IT UP
— MASL (@MASLarena) February 14, 2024
We're tied at 4 midway through the 4th
📺: https://t.co/ntjKOkLXxJ pic.twitter.com/dALVDsmWgW
Then, with 1:29 left to play, Gutierrez took the ball from the corner, battling with multiple Outlaws defenders to get a shot off. Felipe Gonzalez found the deflection off Outlaws goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes and scored the game-winner that also gave the Sockers their first lead of the night.
FELIPE GONZALEZ FOR THE LEAD WITH 1:29 TO PLAY@SanDiegoSockers lead 5-4
— MASL (@MASLarena) February 14, 2024
📺: https://t.co/ntjKOkLXxJ pic.twitter.com/Rgk7So23Ez
THE GAME:
• Boxscore • Live posts • Scoreboard • Standings • Stats • Schedule
THE HIGHLIGHTS:
THE THREE STARS:
1. Felipe Gonzalez, Sockers, 1 G, 1 A 2. Eduardo Cortes, Outlaws, 5 GA, 15 SVS 3. Mitchell Cardenas, Sockers, 1 G
THE INJURIES:
• Sockers: Gabriel Costa (arm), Felipe Gonzalez (leg)
• Outlaws: David Ortiz (national team), Jorge Deleon (ankle), Sebastian Mendez (national team), Luis Morales (ankle), Vinicius Dantas (ankle)
THE SCHEDULE:
The Sockers wrap up the season series with the Texas Outlaws on Thursday. Same kickoff as Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m. from Pechanga Arena. Then they’ll head north to face the Empire Strykers on Sunday for a 4:05 p.m. start at Toyota Arena.
THE CONTENT:
All of our San Diego Sockers coverage can be found on our Sockers page.