# 2013–14 San Diego Sockers season

The 2013–14 San Diego Sockers season was the fifth season of the San Diego Sockers professional indoor soccer club. The San Diego Sockers, a Pacific Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League and the 2012–13 league champion, played their home games in the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California. The team was led by general manager John Kentera and head coach Phil Salvagio with assistant coach Ray Taila. The Sockers finished the regular season 2nd in the Pacific Division with a 13–3 record, qualifying for the post-season but lost to the Las Vegas Legends in the Division Final.

## Season summary

The team struggled from the start of the season, dropping home games to the Dallas Sidekicks and the Monterrey Flash, snapping the San Diego franchise's long-running home winning streak. The Sockers then won 7 consecutive games, including 5 on the road, before surrendering an unprecedented 12 goals and falling to the Las Vegas Legends at home on January 11. The team won their last 6 regular season games to finish with a 13–3 record and qualified for postseason play. They defeated Tijuana-based Toros Mexico in the Pacific Division Semifinal but fell 7–11 to the Las Vegas Legends in the Division Final.
The San Diego Sockers participated in the 2013–14 United States Open Cup for Arena Soccer starting with a Round of 32 victory over the Ontario Fury on December 28, 2013, to advance to the Round of 16 where they lost to the Las Vegas Legends 9–12 on January 11.

## History

This is the third professional soccer franchise to use the "San Diego Sockers" name. The original Sockers were founded in 1978 and played in the North American Soccer League, original Major Indoor Soccer League, and the Continental Indoor Soccer League before ceasing operations in 1996. The second Sockers were briefly revived for the World Indoor Soccer League in 2001 and transitioned to the Major Indoor Soccer League II in 2002 before folding in 2004.
The current Sockers were founded in 2009 and played their first three seasons at the Chevrolet Del Mar Arena in Del Mar, California, before moving to Valley View Casino Center before the 2012–13 season. The VVCC, then known as the San Diego Sports Arena, hosted the indoor games of both of the previous Sockers franchises.

## Roster moves

Veteran player Aaron Susi announced in late February 2014 that he would retire from arena soccer after the end of the Sockers' season.

## Awards and honors

On December 17, 2013, the Professional Arena Soccer League named forward Kraig Chiles as the PASL Player of the Week. The league cited his resurgent scoring efforts, including five goals and two assists in the previous weekend's road games.
On January 7, 2014, the PASL named midfielder Brian Farber as the league's Player of the Week. The league cited his leadership and scoring efforts, including five goals and one assist, in his team's road win over Toros Mexico.
On January 28, 2014, the PASL named Kraig Chiles as its Player of the Week for the second time this season. The league cited his league-leading scoring efforts and four game-winning goals in bestowing the repeat honors.
On February 26, 2014, the PASL announced its "All-League" honors. Forward Kraig Chiles was named to the All-League First Team while defender Evan McNeley and goalkeeper Chris Toth were named to the All-League Honorable Mention list.

## Schedule

Win  Loss

### Regular season

| Game | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Results | Location | Attendance |
| Game | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Score | Record | Location | Attendance |
| 1 | Saturday | November 9 | 7:05pm | Dallas Sidekicks | L 3–5 | 0–1 | Valley View Casino Center | 5,658 |
| 2 | Saturday | November 16 | 7:05pm | Monterrey Flash | L 5–6 (SO) | 0–2 | Valley View Casino Center | 3,922 |
| 3 | Friday | November 22 | 7:05pm | at Turlock Express | W 6–3 | 1–2 | Turlock Soccer Complex | 730 |
| 4 | Saturday | November 23 | 7:05pm | at Sacramento Surge | W 11–4 | 2–2 | Estadio Azteca Soccer Arena | 246 |
| 5 | Thursday | December 12 | 7:05pm | at Ontario Fury | W 8–6 | 3–2 | Citizens Business Bank Arena | 1,210 |
| 6 | Sunday | December 15 | 3:05pm | at Las Vegas Legends | W 7–5 | 4–2 | Orleans Arena | 1,106 |
| 7 | Saturday | December 21 | 7:05pm | Turlock Express | W 9–6 | 5–2 | Valley View Casino Center | 3,416 |
| 8 | Saturday | December 28 | 7:05pm | Ontario Fury† | W 13–5 | 6–2 | Valley View Casino Center | 3,683 |
| 9 | Sunday | January 5 | 1:05pm | at Toros Mexico | W 12–7 | 7–2 | UniSantos Park | 388 |
| 10 | Saturday | January 11 | 7:05pm | Las Vegas Legends† | L 9–12 | 7–3 | Valley View Casino Center | 4,734 |
| 11 | Saturday | January 18 | 7:05pm | Bay Area Rosal | W 13–1 | 8–3 | Valley View Casino Center | 3,728 |
| 12 | Sunday | January 19 | 4:05pm | at Ontario Fury | W 6–5 | 9–3 | Citizens Business Bank Arena | 1,860 |
| 13 | Saturday | January 25 | 7:05pm | at Saltillo Rancho Seco | W 12–4 | 10–3 | Deportivo Rancho-Seco Saltillo | 200 |
| 14 | Sunday | January 26 | 5:05pm | at Monterrey Flash | W 8–6 | 11–3 | Arena Monterrey | 4,891 |
| 15 | Saturday | February 1 | 7:05pm | Toros Mexico | W 6–5 | 12–3 | Valley View Casino Center | 4,954 |
| 16 | Sunday | February 9 | 3:05pm | Ontario Fury | W 10–3 | 13–3 | Valley View Casino Center | 4,092 |
† Game also counts for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.

### Post-season

| Round | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Results | Location | Attendance |
| Round | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Score | Record | Location | Attendance |
| Pacific Division Semifinal | Saturday | February 22 | 7:05pm | Toros Mexico | W 7–4 | 1–0 | Valley View Casino Center | 4,116 |
| Pacific Division Final | Saturday | March 1 | 7:05pm | at Las Vegas Legends | L 7–11 | 1–1 | Las Vegas Sports Park | 711 |

### U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer

| Game | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Results | Results | Location | Attendance |
| Game | Day | Date | Kickoff | Opponent | Score | Record | Location | Attendance |
| Round of 32 | Saturday | December 28 | 7:05pm | Ontario Fury | W 13–5 | 1–0 | Valley View Casino Center | 3,683 |
| Round of 16 | Saturday | January 11 | 7:05pm | Las Vegas Legends | L 9–12 | 1–1 | Valley View Casino Center | 4,734 |