Tavoy Morgan finished a two-game series against the Empire Strykers with four goals in the two matches to give the San Diego Sockers two home wins, culminating with an overtime golden goal to bring the Sockers’ home winning streak to 20 games.
No love was lost between the two SoCal rivals who played in another highly contentious match Friday night.
With home-field advantage locked up throughout the entire Ron Newman Cup playoffs for San Diego, they could only play spoiler in Empire’s quest for a playoff spot.
Forward Tavoy Morgan got the scoring started in the opening quarter with a header into an empty part of the goal after midfielder Felipe Gonzalez centered it to Morgan in the box. The score was Morgan‘s third goal in the last two games, and 18th overall this season.
With 20 seconds to go in the first quarter, Empire forward Mohamed Ndiaye netted his first goal of the night with an assist from forward Franck Tayou.
Juan Manuel Rojo gave the Sockers their second lead of the match with a shot from outside the box that found the open right side of the goal. Rojo added his sixth goal of the season, leading all San Diego defenders.
The second half started with a Strykers goal off the foot of Tayou in the opening minute, tying the game at two goals apiece. Tayou netted his league-leading 35th and 36th goals.
Midfielder Felipe Gonzalez gave the Sockers their third lead with his 11th goal of the season. He has five goals in the team’s last four games and nine goals in his last eight appearances.
The Strykers responded 23 seconds later for the third tie of the night when forward Thyago Henrique, playing in his second ever MASL game, scored an unassisted goal for the first point of his MASL career.
Empire took their first lead with Tayou’s second score and third point of the game, his league-leading 36th goal of the season.
With the sixth attacker on the field for the Sockers and the game reaching its final minutes, Christian Gutierrez found the back of the net to knot the score at four goals apiece and send the game to overtime.
Morgan scored the game’s final goal, a golden goal game-winner in overtime to earn two points in the standings for San Diego.