The San Diego Sockers might need a break from a break

The Premier Arena Soccer League club has had its recent troubles after taking some time to rest for the holiday season after suffering its second consecutive defeat with a 9-8 overtime loss to the previously win-less California Cougars at the Stockton Arena Monday night.

San Diego will try to move on from that outing as it takes a break from PASL-pro play with a U.S. Open Arena Soccer Championship Southwest Regional match against the San Diego Fusion tonight at Del Mar Arena.

The U.S. Open is an open knockout tournament for arena and indoor style clubs that is played separately during the regular season for most teams, much like the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup tournament for outdoor professional teams, including Major League Soccer.

The Sockers (6-2) will try to defend its U.S. Open title beginning with the round of 16 game against the Fusion's developmental squad.

The Fusion earned their way into the Southwest Regional championship by defeating a seven team field in a tournament conducted last month.

The winner of this game will face the Las Vegas Knights of the PASL-Premier league.

A break from the PASL-Pro could be timely for the Sockers after their outing against California.

It was a match the Sockers will probably want to forget. San Diego took a 4-0 early lead and led by two goals as the final period began only to let the California rally back and escape with its first win of the season.

Uriel Robledo scored the winning goal 17 seconds into the extra period on a loose ball that defelected off the back heel of Sockers' midfielder and former Cougar Majell Aterado and into the net.

It was not the way anyone expected this match to end.

"Nothing you can do, it just hit my heel and went in," said Aterado of the play. "It's a terrible way for the game to end."

There was no question the Sockers were the heavy favorites. Perhaps the break for Christmas helped throw the Sockers out of sync eventhough they were coming of a loss to Cincinnati. Or maybe it was the fact their match against California was their fourth on the road since Dec. 4.

"It just doesn't feel right," said veteran midfielder Paul Wright of the two-game losing streak. "We're definitely not used to this…it's very disappointing. We'll go back to the tape and try to correct some of our mistakes."

The Sockers are used to seeing California fight a good match.

The Cougars (1-6) have always given the Sockers (6-2) difficulties in previous seasons with San Diego beating California by a goal in each of their four matches last season.

But this year had a different feel. The Cougars are considered one of the league's weakest teams and have struggled to play a fluid brand of soccer.

The Sockers return to PASL-Pro action Jan. 8 at home against Cincinnati.

PASL-PRO WESTERN DIVISION STANDINGS

Team

W-L

SOCKERS

6-2

Revolucion Tijuana

3-2

Tacoma Stars

3-2

California Cougars

1-6