The San Diego Sockers (6-2) return to Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro) play on Saturday night when they host the Eastern Division leading Cincinnati Kings (7-1) at the Del Mar Arena. San Diego is 11-0 at home in regular season games dating back to last season when they joined the league. However, Saturday’s game against the Kings will not be an easy win. The Kings handed the Sockers their first loss of this season in Cincinnati on December 18, a 5-4 setback.

The Sockers honor their 1985 team.

_{Photo by Stephen Prendergast}

The Kings defeat of the Sockers did not come without controversy because Cincinnati played 15 players in that game instead of the league-mandated maximum of 13. “(It) marred what was one of the best games of the year between the league’s top two teams, and that is something the league cannot tolerate,” Commissioner Kevin Milliken said of the rules violation.

Milliken did not take away the win from the Kings because the league’s rulebook did not have a penalty set in place for exceeding the maximum number of players. However, he did suspend Kings head coach Craig Rhodes for Saturday’s game and fined him an undisclosed amount.

Sockers head coach Phil Salvagio does not believe Rhodes purposely played more than 13 players. “I think it was an oversight,” says Salvagio. “They had too many guys on the bench dressed. It is easy to lose track.” Salvagio suggested a rule change that would require players that are not on the 13-man active game day roster to be required to wear an alternate jersey on the bench.

While the Kings will be without Rhodes, the Sockers will be missing a key player in defender John Krause who has four goals and an assist in eight games. Krause has been given the opportunity to attend a Turkish Professional Soccer combine in Istanbul for 10 days. “John has an opportunity to perform in front of dozens of coaches and general managers for an elite league in the Middle East, and we wanted to give him that opportunity,” says general manager John Kentera. “He will be back with us in two weeks and we will welcome him back.”

To compensate for the loss of Krause, the Sockers called up defender Rhett Bernstein and midfielder/forward Nelson Pizarro from the Fusion, the Sockers' developmental squad. Kentera described the roster moves as an example of the organization’s depth and commitment to developing talent. “Pizarro came from our tryout two years ago and Rhett’s been a big part of the Fusion the last season,” says Kentera. “We hope they will be able to contribute to the Sockers' success this year.”

In the Sockers last game they took on the Fusion in the Western quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup, a year-long tournament open to arena teams of all levels. As the defending U.S. Open Cup Champions, the Sockers earned a bye to the quarterfinal round while the Fusion had to beat out 17 teams in early tournament action to earn the right to play against the team that they aspire to be on.

It was a hard-fought game among the friendly rivals that eventually saw the Sockers pull out a 7-5 victory. Paul Wright scored twice and Ze Roberto had two assists for the Sockers.

The game also featured a halftime tribute to the 1985 Sockers team that won five consecutive championships including the “One for the Thumb.” (1985 Sockers One For the Thumb video)

Among the honored was legendary goalie Zoltan Toth (Zollie the Goalie). Meanwhile his son Chris Toth played admirably well for the Fusion in the game. “I am very, very proud,” says Zoltan. “Chris is a third-generation goal keeper. My dad was a goal keeper, so I learned it from him.”

The Sockers will continue their defense of the U.S. Open Cup by taking on the Las Vegas Knights later this month on a date that has not yet been determined.

Kickoff for this Saturday’s game against the Kings is at 6:15 p.m. It’s Ball Night. The first 250 children aged 14 will receive a free official Sockers soccer ball. Tickets are available at866-799-GOAL.

PASL-Pro Western Division Standings

San Diego Sockers 6-2

Tijuana Revolucion 3-2

Tacoma Stars 3-2

California Cougars 1-6