Another action packed week for the Major Arena Soccer League. If you want one take away from the weekend, it's that Monterrey may be the best team in the league. Some other takes could be: San Diego is reminded to fear Chihuahua, Kansas City on a losing streak, and the middle of the table is full of surprises. Let's take a closer look at week 8.

Tuesday, January 9th

Texas Outlaws 10-5 Empire Strykers

This game was the debut of Miguel Ponce, a former Chivas and Mexican National team player. Set to take the field with a former teammate, Marco Fabian. However, the Outlaws were there to ruin the good times.

The Strykers would open up the scoring but that would be the only time they held the lead as the Outlaws would tie it up and take the lead halfway through the first quarter. The rest of the game, we would see the Outlaws scoring and going on runs, and the Strykers were not able to keep up on the night. We did witness the connection of Ponce’s assist to Marco's goal.

Friday, January 13th

Utica City FC 7-6 Kansas City Comets

The battle of the blue turfs, this was a spicy affair, we would see an overtime win and a red card. Kansas City would be in control in the first half. Leading 1-4 heading to the break, Utica's head coach Hewerton, making adjustments and taking control in the second half. Utica would create momentum in the third quarter, finally tying it up in the fourth quarter and sending it to overtime! The blues would win it in overtime via a goal from Steven Fernandez.

Milwaukee Wave 5-2 St Louis Ambush

Defensively, the Wave was sound. They would open the scoring on the night and remained in the lead the whole game. They absorbed pressure from St Louis and Willie B would have an outstanding night with 22 saves. The Ambush continued their storyline with a high output but a low conversion rate, they had 45 shots but only scored 2 goals. Giving the Wave a comfort win.

Saturday, January 13th

Baltimore Blast 5-3 Harrisburg Heat

This matchup was a defensive battle. Both teams allowed the pressure and handled it well and looked to win on the counter. The first quarter and most of the second, both teams would tie and trade off scoring, however, late in the second quarter Baltimore would take the lead and keep it for the rest of the game.

Both keepers would come up huge for their respective team. Mike Zierhoffer would have his best game of the season and Jorge Navarrete would be debuting.

Utica City FC 7-3 St Louis

Solid game from Utica. For St Louis, the story continues, outshooting the Blues 37-25 but not goals to reflect it. Utica kicked off the game with four unanswered goals. That would be enough to keep St Louis from catching up, eventually winning 7-3. Good note for the Ambush, VcMor Eligwe, their newest signing, finds himself two points for the game.

Milwaukee Wave 10-7 Dallas Sidekicks

This was just a good game altogether. Each team would score in every quarter but the Wave did enough to outscore the Sidekicks 10-7 and outshoot Dallas 40-32. For Milwaukee, two outstanding performances from Andre Hayne with 3 goals, 1 assist, and Ian Bennett with 1 goal, 3 assists. For Dallas, Blas Pérez had his best game of the season with 4 goals and 1 assist.

Monterrey Flash 6-5 Texas Outlaws

Tale of two halves. The first half of the game we saw Texas in control. The half would end in 3-1 for the Outlaws. The second half Monterrey gained control and scored 5 unanswered goals. The game would end in a 6-5 scoreline for the Flash to take the win.

This game showed us two things. The Flash have a lot of fight in them and they are the comeback kings, as we have seen them come back more than once this season.

San Diego Sockers 6-5 Tacoma Stars

This game was a bit different from the games we saw these two have earlier this season. There were a few rotational players who got more game time and we saw 9 cards handed out, 4 yellow cards and 5 blue cards.

San Diego would only score in quarters 2 and 4, Tacoma would score in each quarter. However, the Sockers outshot and outscored the Stars. This would mark the difference and give San Diego the win.

Sunday, January 14th

Texas Outlaws 5-2 Dallas Sidekicks

The Texas Showdown was a pretty close game. Both teams shot 22 on goal but Outlaws would make 5 vs the 2 goals the Sidekicks would get. No goals were in the first quarter, it was until the second quarter that the game would kick off. However, the Outlaws would win this game. Vini Dantas and Jorge Deleon would get 2 points each and get the stars for the team.

Monterrey Flash 12-5 Kansas City Comets

This game just shows one thing, Monterrey is that real. They were the first to score and would seemingly show that they could find the goal at will. They would have a few scoring sprees that would go unanswered. Kansas City did show some life in the third quarter but the Flash were just too much.

Tacoma Stars 7-5 Empire Strykers

A game with narrow margins. Stars would score three early in the game and that would prove to be enough to keep the Strykers from tying it up. The rest of the game would be a back and forth affair. Jamael Cox and Nick Perera would both get three points on the night.

Chihuahua Savage 5-1 San Diego Sockers

The champions flexed their muscle and gave newly appointed head coach Genoni Martinez his first career win. Outplaying San Diego on both the defensive and offensive side. They would hold the Sockers scoreless until Tavoy Morgan found a goal but it was too late as the Savage would take it 5-1.

Chihuahua started newly signed super goalie, Diego Reynoso in goal and made 16 saves on the night. Cleberson Rodrigues, one of Chihuahua’s big name signings in the summer would make his debut and would get himself a goal and an assist. Big night for the team all around.

- 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.