The San Diego Sockers can clinch the Western Division of the Professional Arena Soccer League with a win tonight (February 26) over the visiting Revolucion Tijuana.

The Sockers (11-3) lost to the Revolucion 9-6 last week in Tijuana. With two regular season games left, the Sockers magic number is one. A win by the Sockers or a loss by the California Cougars will sew up the divisional championship.

Tijuana competes in the provisional/expansion/exhibition flight of the PASL. But twice previously this season, the Revolucion has played the Sockers close, making a strong case that they are worthy of being promoted to the league’s professional flight.

As with their previous trip in to Tijuana, the Sockers had difficulty adjusting to Revolucion’s uniquely small field and goals, which seem to cause the ball to bounce in bizarre angles off of the boards.

Anthony Medina had a hat

trick in the Sockers loss.

^{Courtesy photo}

The Sockers were also protecting key members of the team by limiting their playing time, hoping to preventing injuries on Tijuana’s field—basically, a thin padless carpet over a slab of concrete.

Aaron Susi had twisted his ankle during practice and missed the game entirely.

League-leading scorer Kraig Chiles cautiously withdrew from action after experiencing some soreness in his hamstring. For the first time all season, Chiles did not score a goal.

Two of the team’s other stars, Paul Wright (hamstring) and Brian O’Connor (groin), saw limited action.

Also missing was head coach Phil Salvagio, who underwent knee ligament replacement surgery prior to the game. Assistant coach Ray Taila filled in. Salvagio watched the game on a web cast.

Anthony Medina led the Sockers scoring with a hat trick. Dan Antoniuk, Wright and Diego Rovira scored a goal each.

Without a full arsenal, though, the Sockers could not overcome four late unanswered goals, which included a game-tying score by Jorge Blanco to end the third period.

The loss brings the likelihood that the Sockers will clinch the division in front of their fans at the Del Mar Arena Saturday at home against the Drillers (6:15 p.m.).

NOTES: The California Cougars host the Edmonton Drillers in Stockton. Either a Sockers win or a Cougars loss will give the Sockers the Western Division Championship…

Tonight is Haiti Relief Night at the Del Mar Arena. Former San Diego’s Sockers player Jacques Ladouceur will be selling and signing his book, Make Your Life Count, and donate 100 percent of proceeds to the Haiti Endowment Fund…

Two lucky fans in attendance will be chosen to play a tennis match at half time against and Sockers legends Julie Vee and Zoltan Toth. If the fans win the game, they will share $1,000 in prize money…

Saturday night is Girl Scouts Night. Cookies will be on sale, and the National Anthem will be sung by a Girl Scout.