Week 13, we had 9 games, two overtime golden goals, and one shootout win. This was an action-packed week as we saw Baltimore find their form, maybe finding their playoff hopes alive. We saw San Diego get three wins while facing the injury bug. We also saw Monterrey continue their undefeated reign. Massive week so let’s get into it!

Tuesday, February 13th

San Diego Sockers 5-4 Texas Outlaws

The first game of the week was a battle of first and second. This was a close game. Both teams would score one goal in each quarter; however, in the fourth quarter San Diego would find two goals. This would be the difference between these two teams. For San Diego, Felipe Gonzalez and Mitchell Cardenas took away the stars of the game. For Texas, Pollo Cortes would earn the star, with 15 saves, as he was a huge part of why this was such a close game.

Thursday, February 15th

Dallas Sidekicks 8-7 Tacoma Stars

What a win for the Dallas Sidekicks! This was a roller coaster for the greens, they would be in control for the first twenty minutes, and would even have a three-goal lead at one point. Though they kept scoring throughout the game, Tacoma Stars would too, eventually chipping away at their lead. A hand ball in the fourth quarter led to a penalty kick, so Jamael Cox stepped up. Prior to the PK, Cox was having a huge game, already had two goals, so the PK was his hattrick to send it into overtime. However, this sport has a funny way of being cruel to many and poetic to others, as twenty seconds into overtime, Blas Perez, a player who has been a beacon of hope for the Sidekicks, was the one to give Dallas a second win of the season.

San Diego Sockers 8-4 Texas Outlaws

The second Texas vs San Diego game of the week and, though the result was the same, this game was very different. From beginning to end the Sockers were in control. Brandon Escoto would open up the scoring for San Diego, however it would be the defenders and the midfielders that would run the scoring of all 8 goals. Newest signing, Flavio Guzman, would have a great game and even get his first goal and assist for the Sockers.

This was the final game between these two for the remainder of the regular season and San Diego took all three wins. If the Outlaws face San Diego, it should be noted that the Sockers were the team that beat them on both legs of their semifinal match-ups last season.

Friday, February 16th

Milwaukee Wave 7-5 St Louis Ambush

St Louis would start with a 2-0 lead in the first quarter, but that quickly turned around by the second quarter ended as Milwaukee would go on a four-goal run. The second half was much of the same, Milwaukee would just out-score the Ambush, and eventually the game would end with a 7-5 scoreline. This was a close game, the Wave would have 25 shots on goal while the Ambush had 26 of their own. The difference for the night would be Willie B and his 14 saves.

Chihuahua Savage 3-2 Kansas City Comets

This was the battle of the keepers. Both Diego Reynoso and Nicolau Neto had double digit saves in the game. This game was a back and forth affair, with Zach Reget tying it up in the eighth minute of the fourth quarter. Chihuahua would get the golden goal via Brandon Gonzalez. This was a close game and many have opinions on some of the refs calls.

Saturday, February 17th

Baltimore Blast 13-6 Utica City FC

What a win for Baltimore! Could we be watching a revival for the Blast? Baltimore scored three goals in the first quarter and as the game continued, the scoreline only grew and eventually ended in a 13-6 win for Baltimore. Before this win, Baltimore had not beat Utica this season. Another thing to note is this was Ricardo Diegues’s second game and it was a big one for him, with 5 goals.

Sunday, February 18th

Utica City FC 6-5 Milwaukee Wave

Having played just under 24 hours prior, Utica was back on the field. This was a hard-fought game. This game started in the way many of Utica's games do, with them scoring a few goals before the other team found their rhythm. On the other hand, Milwaukee started off slow as they normally do and by the fourth quarter, they were on the Blue's heels. A late goal from Steven Fernandez would give Utica all three points.

Monterrey Flash 9-3 Tacoma Stars

Another game and another win for Monterrey. The first goal went to Tacoma and the next 7 goals went to the Flash. The last quarter had both teams scoring a pair of goals, however, it was a little too late and Monterrey would get another victory. The three stars went to Erick Rosas with a hat trick, Ismael Rojo with a brace, and Edgar Gonzalez with a goal and an assist.

San Diego Sockers vs Empire Strykers

The final game between the Sockers and the Strykers of the regular season ended in a shootout! Sockers did control early in the game but the Strykers fought back to tie it up and send it into overtime via a goal from Alan Perez. In overtime these two stayed tied, so to shootouts we went. Six shooters stepped to the plate, three for San Diego and three for Empire and only Kraig Chiles found the back of the net and gave San Diego the win.

- Geo Monterroso

While Geo is a contributing writer for Protagonist Soccer, he’s also the founder and host of the Goals N Boards podcast. It’s the best podcast strictly devoted to MASL.