The San Diego Sockers are hitting their stride at the right time. San Diego ended the regular season with a solid 13-3 win over the Edmonton Drillers on February 26. The victory secured the Sockers the best overall regular season record in PASL-Pro play and the first seed in the PASL-Pro Championship Series next weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio. It also gives the Sockers the right to host the playoffs next season.

Offensive standouts included Eric Wunderle who had a hat trick and an assist, and PASL-Pro goals leader Kraig Chiles who tacked on two more scores for his 32nd and 33rd goals of the season.

Rookie goalkeeper Chris Toth started and allowed just three goals in his best game yet. Toth’s stellar performance was serendipitous as the Sockers honored his father Zoltan Toth “Zollie the Goalie” by retiring his No. 1 jersey to the rafters at halftime. “That was a good feeling tonight,” Chris commented after the game. “I had a lot to play for.” Chris is now undefeated in his four starts as goalie.

Zoltan was born in Budapest, Hungry and is the son of Gregory Toth, who made 15 appearances with the Hungarian national team. Zoltan followed in his father footsteps and also played for the Hungarian national team in addition to winning two outdoor national championships as the the goalie for first division Ujpest FC in Hungary.

However, Zoltan defected to the United States in 1979 so that he could provide a better life for his family than he could in Hungary. With help from Juli Veee, Zoltan joined the New York Arrows and was named MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) Goalkeeper of the year in 1982-1983.

Zoltan then followed Veee to San Diego in 1984 and was the Sockers goalie from 1984 to 1990. With consistent great play in San Diego, he earned the honor of MISL’s Goal Keeper of the Decade for the 1980s.

Zoltan’s No. 1 jersey now joins Juli Veee (22), Brian Quinn (14), Kaz Deyna (10), Gene Willrich (15), Kevin Crow (12), and former coach Ron Newman (no number) in the Del Mar Arena rafters of retied Sockers jerseys. “I feel like my dream has come true,” says Zoltan.

“Growing up watching the Sockers and then dreaming of becoming a goalkeeper for the team, my role model was Zoltan Toth,” says San Diego Sockers owner and Head Coach Phil Salvagio. “He was an all-time great and remains a giant part of the soccer community in San Diego. We are thrilled to give ‘Zollie’ this honor.”

Riley Swift, the team’s regular starting goalie, also wears No. 1 and will be allowed to continue to wear it. Then no other player will wear the number after Swift.

Salvagio and the Sockers now turn their attention to the PASL-Pro Championship in Cincinnati March 10-12. With the first seed in the playoffs the Sockers earned a first round bye. In order to win the championship they will need to win back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night. “We look good,” Salvagio said after Saturday’s game. “Everybody is coming up healthy. I had to rest guys today to make sure everybody is ready.”

Regardless of whether the Sockers win the championship, they will conclude play this season hosting the U.S. Open Cup Championship, a separate single elimination tournament on March 19 at the Del Mar Arena, against the Cincinnati Kings.

Tickets are available at www.sdsockers.com or by calling (866) 799-GOAL.

PASL-Pro Western Division Standings