SOCKERS ROUT AMBUSH 8-2

by Jim Fossell

San Diego, California (January 27, 2024) – The St. Louis Ambush were routed by the San Diego Sockers in an 8-2 match Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena San Diego. The loss dropped the Ambush to 2-8-2 (wins-losses-overtime losses) on the season, while the Sockers improved to 8-1-0. Although the teams played the standard four quarters, for all practical purposes, the game was decided in the first half.

San Diego wasted no time finding the back of the net, as Charlie Gonzalez scored just 57 seconds into the game. Brandon Escoto made it 2-0 in the seventh minute of the first quarter. Kraig Chiles scored with a long shot from near the top of the arc in the thirteenth minute, followed by Tavoy Morgan 32 seconds later for a 4-0 lead.

St. Louis got on the board 38 seconds into the second period when John A. Eskay scored off a pass from brother William Eskay. The Sockers widened the gap with three goals in 56 seconds. Tavoy Morgan and Gabriel Costa both scored in the fifth minute of the second frame, followed by Juan Salazar 16 seconds later to make it a 7-1 game. Those numbers would hold until the end of the frame, giving the home team a commanding lead at halftime.

William Eskay scored the lone goal in the third quarter, inching the Ambush closer on the scoreboard at 7-2. Chiles got his second tally of the contest in the eighth minute of the fourth period with a high shot out of reach of Ambush goalkeeper Paulo Nascimento to make it 8-2.

Nascimento got a workout, facing 21 shots and saving 13. In goal for San Diego, the combination of Boris Pardo and Xavier Snaer-Williams faced only 13 shots, with Pardo saving eight and Snaer-Willaims making three saves.

The Ambush barely have time to catch their breath before they’re back in action again. They face the Empire Strykers Sunday evening at 6:05 p.m. CT at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.

Following Sunday’s match, the Ambush return to The Family Arena for three consecutive home games. The Harrisburg Heat come to town on February 2, followed by the Kansas City Comets on February 4 and the Tacoma Stars on February 10.

All MASL games are available for viewing via webcast at twitch.tv. Single game, season and group tickets for the 2023-24 season are now on sale. Call the Ambush office at 636-477-6363 for more information. Single game tickets can also be purchased online at ticketmaster.com. Fans can stay current on all Ambush news by visiting the team’s official website, stambush.com and on social media outlets.