PLAYOFF CONCLUSION

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

The Ron Newman Cup Finals are Going Back to Chihuahua

The Chihuahua Savage will play for a third consecutive Ron Newman Cup on home turf after taking down the Milwaukee Wave in dramatic fashion.

After a monumental battle, the Chihuahua Savage will move on to the Ron Newman Cup Finals for a chance to win a third consecutive title. Their resilience and fight bled throughout the match as they put pressure on an unrelenting Wave side. Ultimately, it was Pedro Castaneda who struck the final blow in golden goal overtime with a beautiful shot just past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper William Banahene.

The Savage struggled during much of the match with shot creation, opting for long-range efforts that failed to trouble Milwaukee’s defense, but in transition and on set pieces, they showed why they are Bicampeónes. Their high press gave Milwaukee fits with two goals coming directly off the Wave’s giveaways, while the Savage converted two of their restart opportunities into goals. 


When the lights were brightest, Chihuahua’s stars shined. Hugo Puentes, Jorge Ríos, Pedro Castaneda, and Bryan Macias all finished the game with two points, while a further five found the scoresheet, but don’t let the result fool you; this was a frustrating performance for the Savage who took 29 shots and scored seven.

“Sometimes you have to suffer to win,” said Chihuahua head coach, Edgar Martinez. “We stared very well, but we didn’t score the chances that we had, which gave Milwaukee opportunities to score.”

By comparison, the Wave was the epitome of efficiency. They scored six goals from just 16 shots, but it’s important to remember that better efficiency does not always guarantee victory. Sometimes, you get outshot, and that is, at least at a very basic level, what happened to Milwaukee. They created great chances and converted those chances well, but Chihuahua created more and were just efficient enough to escape with the win. 


A key part of that incredible efficiency was Ian Bennett, who set the playoffs alight with his seven points in two games. He led the league this weekend in both points and goals, and his catalogue of finishes was superb. Franck Tayou played provider this weekend, with three assists and a pair of goals as he and Ian grabbed the top two spots on the league’s playoff points leaderboard. 


As the game oscillated between the two teams, Milwaukee kept finding ways to stay alive. A few lucky goals helped them get into the game, while their final goal came off a well-approached set piece. They weren’t reckless in attack because they really couldn’t afford to be, but instead were methodical when they went forward.
The Wave players have every reason to be proud of themselves. After taking down the Comets in another dramatic game on Saturday evening, they went toe to toe with the MASL Shield winners for over 60 minutes, and were so close to a spot in the championship. This team turned head last year with their unprecedented upset of Monterrey and this year was no different.

For the Savage, this hurdle will be great preparation ahead of their third consecutive Ron Newman Cup Finals. It pays to have adversity and to overcome these major challenges, just as they did. They’re stronger, smarter, and after resting this week, they’ll be better for it too.

“This was our goal from the beginning,” said Martinez. “We’re bringing a final to our people, to Chihuahua, to Mexico, and were very happy about that.”

Sockers Dominate and Advance to Ron Newman Cup Finals for the First Time Since 2022

The Sockers’ record at Frontwave Arena remains unblemished as they cruise to an 11-3 win, clinching the final spot in this year’s Ron Newman Cup Finals.

From the opening whistle, San Diego looked in control. The way they moved the ball and set up defensively was extremely purpose driven and their game plan was clear: get behind the ball, block shots, and allow their creative players the freedom to push forward and do what they do best. 


San Diego’s offense scored early and often, with Christian Gutierrez, Leonardo De Oliveira, and Gabriel Costa each finishing the game with three points. The goals weren’t just numerous, they were spectacular.

From long-range screamers to slaloming solo runs, San Diego did it all, and they did it in style. They were also incredibly efficient, as indicated by their 0.55 Goals Per Shot, well more than double the league average of 0.223. 


In defense, the Sockers contained the extremely talented and well-coached Blast to just 11 shots this game, five of which were blocked. They suffocated Baltimore who just didn’t have time to create anything, and kept them off the scoresheet for the entirety of the second half. The result? An eight-goal win and a spot in the Ron Newman Cup Finals for the first time in three years.

“It means everything, said Sockers head coach, Phil Salvagio. “To play here, this miracle season in the new house, the new arena, it’s just been a dream.” 


It wasn’t always smooth sailing for San Diego. They gave up two quick goals in the second quarter, and at one point, their 4-1 lead shrunk to just one goal. Baltimore managed to find a way through on the back of some good ball movement while in possession near the Sockers’ goal. Victor Parreiras, Juan Pereira, and Chad Poarch each added to the score sheet in the first half but just couldn’t make it happen in the second.

Despite the loss, Coach Bascome and his team will be proud to have made it to this point. After missing the playoffs last season and with so many roster changes, Baltimore was a major success story of the season. This roster is no doubt one of the strongest in the MASL, and from here on out, this should be the measure for a successful season. If they can hang on to their stars in the offseason, the Blast has every chance to be back again next year, competing for a spot in the Ron Newman Cup Finals. 


Looking forward, we have our dates for the Ron Newman Cup Finals, and the matchup is about as tantalizing as it get. The Sockers and Savage finished the season with nearly identical records and they split their four games during the regular season with the home team winning every contest.

“It’s really tough to play in Chihuahua,” said Salvagio. “They have home-field advantage, so they have the upper hand. They beat us out on points this year, so, yeah, we’re gonna have a good battle.”

Game one of the Ron Newman Cup Finals is scheduled for Sunday, April 13, at Frontwave Arena in San Diego, and the following match at Corner Sport Arena in Chihuahua will be Sunday, April 20. Visit MASLSoccer.com for more information!