Around the League: Week 7

by Joseph Reina

**The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoints or positions of the Major Arena Soccer League.**

@josephreina21

Sidekicks Remain Perfect at Home

2025 looks good on the Sidekicks. Head coach Terry Woodberry’s side has every reason to be proud after a third consecutive win at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center on Saturday night. They’ve taken care of business in all three contests, but these close wins against difficult opposition show the true grit this team is capable of tapping into.



Despite an unassuming scoreline, Dallas kept Empire at bay thanks to a defensive game plan that forced the Strykers into more difficult shots that failed to test the keeper. When looking at Empire’s shots on target per shot (SOTPS) going into Saturday, they sat slightly below the league average of 66.7%. Against the Sidekicks, they only managed 56.7%.

On top of that impressive defensive showing, goalkeeper Juan Gamboa made several crucial saves down the stretch, finishing with six saves and no goals against in his 24-minute cameo. His heroics between the pipes paved the way for Jamie Lovegrove to impose his will in attack. The 34-year-old bagged three assists on the night along with the game-winning goal after a beautiful bit of interplay with Blas Pérez. 


It's still early in the season but after seven games, the Sidekicks have nine points and are already over halfway to last season’s points haul. Their intensity can be difficult for visiting teams, as we’ve already seen with Milwaukee and Harrisburg. Now, the focus should shift towards replicating that success on the road, especially with a long stretch of away games looming.


Up next for the Sidekicks is a weekend back-to-back in Chihuahua against the Savage. While wins are nearly impossible to come by in Mexico, Dallas will look to St. Louis for inspiration after their pair of good performances against the Savage this weekend. Kickoff for the first contest is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 17, at 9:00 PM EST.

Baltimore Sweeps Utica to Start the New Year with Conviction

It cannot be overstated how important this early season series between Utica and Baltimore was. The two sides faced off three times in the past two weeks, with all three contests going the way of the Blast. The result is a seven-point gulf between the bitter rivals in the league table and with just three rematches remaining this season, Baltimore holds all the cards but Utica still has an ace up its sleeve. 


This tactical battle in Utica was more streetfight than dance as the two opposing head coaches felt each other out in the first quarter. After a bit of back and forth that favored the hosts, David Bascome’s side pounced, scoring four straight goals in the third quarter to take a 5-2 lead in the final frame. A pair of goals from Utica ensured a tense finish, but Baltimore escaped with all three points on the day and nine from the series.


After a rebuilding year last season, there are no longer any questions being asked about the Blast’s lineup. Victor Parreiras, Juan Pereira, Patrick Thompson, Bruno Henrique, Jesus Pacheco, and the rest of the Blast’s stars proved their worth during the series, but one player stood out from the crowd. Chad Poarch cannot stop scoring, and his incredible technique on the ball has been invaluable to his side’s attack. 


Though he’s listed as a defender, he spends much of his time finding and exploiting space in the opposition end, more often than not adding his name to the score sheet. The 27-year-old accumulated two goals and four assists across the three games against Utica, bringing his season total to 13 points in just six games. He also has the highest shooting percentage among all MASL players with at least five goals. Not too bad for a rookie.

He and his teammates also have a thoroughly impressive defensive record this season. They’ve conceded six or fewer goals in six of their seven games, for the joint-fourth best goals-against average this season (5.00). They smother their opponents defensively, resulting in nearly five fewer shots against per game than the league average (24). 


The irregularity we need to address is Kelvin Oliveira, who missed all three contests against the Blast while he was representing Brazil in the Kings World Cup Nations tournament in Italy. I’d be remiss if I failed to highlight that not only did his side win the title, but Kelvin was named the Golden Boot winner and the tournament’s best player on the back of a staggering 19-goal haul in just five appearances. It may sound like hyperbole, but there’s a very good chance that at this moment, Kelvin is the best small-sided soccer player in the world. Utica truly has a gem on its hands.

At the end of the day, those losses against Baltimore still count on the table and as a result, his side is now squarely at the bottom of a hole they need to dig themselves out of. Their first chance comes after a nice long break when the Milwaukee Wave visits for a back-to-back weekend in Utica in two weeks. For the Blast, they’ll be in action again this weekend when the Outlaws travel to Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 19, at 12:00 PM EST.

 

Strykers and Ambush Battle for Postseason Aspirations

Amidst the overwhelming fray of new signings during the offseason, a narrative for the season emerged from the shadows: Two teams who missed the playoffs last season, attempting to rebuild with the hopes of a postseason berth.

For Empire, it was the auxiliary pieces. They had Marco Fabián. What they needed were the players around him. St. Louis went the reunion route and signed a crown jewel, fit for a king to join them. Nine games into the MASL season, they’ve finally faced off, with another duel imminent this weekend, so what separates these two sides? 


On Monday night, Justin Stinson scored a wonderful hattrick against his former club, thanks to the Strykers’ exceptional ability to find and utilize space in St. Louis’ end. Both sides exchanged spells of momentum, but the Ambush never earned their rhythm as Empire’s gameplan prevailed by a score of 8-6.


Onua Obasi has impressed during his first MASL coaching campaign. It’s impossible to miss his side’s unique tactical approach, but they’ve bought into his concept and already earned two more points than their entire return from last season. The Strykers play all three of their goalkeepers, especially in possession. It is not abnormal to see them joining the outfield five, creating more passing lanes for their teammates, and contributing with the ball at their feet. It’s an admittedly risky tactic, but they’re committing to it and at least for now, reaping the reward. 


The Ambush, by comparison, doesn’t yet have one specific trait that they can count on with any sort of reliability. Their extremely versatile roster is loaded with talent and they do a great job of adapting to exploit their opponents' weaknesses as we saw against the Comets in December or Chihuahua this weekend. Though they don’t have as many victories to look back on as Empire, their performances are still a testament to how far they’ve come.

The two sides will make the journey to St. Louis this week for a rematch at the Family Arena. Both sides will be eager to capture a win, but it's hard to see the Ambush making the postseason if they don’t get a win here. They’re currently four points below the playoff line and running out of opportunities to not just earn points, but take them away from their competitors. Kickoff for that pivotal match is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18, at 6:05 PM EST.