Leonardo De Oliveira passes the ball to a teammate while being run down by a Tacoma foe.
Greg Siller/Sockers
Sockers survive Tacoma defense in overtime
Jonny Richardson - February 06, 2022
Sockers survive Tacoma defense in overtime | Everything San Diego

It did not look great, but the San Diego Sockers survived a low-scoring, defensive match with the Tacoma Stars in overtime for their seventh consecutive victory of the season.

Brandon Escoto scored the game-winning goal just past three minutes into the overtime period. Escoto assisted two goals as well for a team-leading three-point effort.

Tacoma’s defense was as strong of a defense as the Sockers have seen all season. Stars’ goalkeeper Danny Waltman made 16 saves in a spectacular showing, nine days after allowing nine goals to the same team.

But the San Diego goalkeeping, which saw Boris Pardo back in the net following his two-game suspension, was equally as good. Pardo matched secondary goalkeeper Xavier Snaer-Williams’ performances of last week, allowing just three goals while making nine saves in a winning effort.

Kraig Chiles scored two goals, including the first-quarter goal with nine seconds remaining to put the Sockers on the board. Chiles was also a few pushes and shoves away from a hat trick in the fourth quarter that prevented the captain from being in the exact position the ball was passed to a few moments later.

Charlie Gonzalez began the second quarter with a goal of his own to give San Diego a two-goal lead, but Tacoma would come back with a goal in the second and third quarters to tie the match.

Tavoy Morgan’s role was significantly reduced as he was suffering from a groin strain and saw his eight-game goal-scoring streak come to an end.

What’s next?

The Sockers begin a three-game road trip Friday, Feb. 11 for the second of three consecutive meetings with the Stars, the next two in Tacoma. A kick-off from Tacoma’s accesso ShoWare Center is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. PT.

Recent Sockers News