RECAPPING DAY ONE WITH REINA

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

Late Flurry Sends Chihuahua Through and St. Louis Packing

Two of the hottest teams in the MASL opened the playoffs on Saturday night with a taste of high-stakes playoff indoor soccer.


Despite holding the Savage to just one goal in the first three quarters, the Ambush offense fell flat as they bowed out of the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs. It must be said, the final score does not do the Ambush justice. They played well and held their own for much of the game, until late in fourth quarter when a critical error forced their hand and the Savage made them pay.


With a varied press and intense counter attacking, St. Louis kept Chihuahua on their toes. The Savage, who averaged over 38 shots per game finished with just 19, but crucially, they converted five of their opportunities into goals. The same cannot be said about St. Louis, who despite creating several major chances, only found the net once. 


James Thomas’ goal off a slick assist from Duduca leveled the match and gave St. Louis hope, but it was not to be. Paulo Nascimento, who made several huge saves and kept his team in the game several times, made a mistake in the back while under pressure, gifting Chihuahua a goal with less than ten minutes to play. 


This forced the sixth attacker into action, but the Savage pounced. With seemingly every mistake, they punished the Ambush, including a three-goal spree in less than 45 seconds. Miguel Angel Diaz, Cesar Ruiz, and Bryan Macias each found the back of the net to put the game to bed. 


Credit to the Savage defense who conceded just once for the second time this season, the first being against the Stars on Jan. 31. In many ways this game followed a similar script, as both teams held firm for the opening period, before exchanging goals to take a 1-1 draw into the fourth quarter. The Savage then pulled away with a series of goals, but at the heart of these professional performances is a defensive unit that can close up shop seemingly at will.


“We are so hungry,” said Savage head coach Edgar Martinez. “Even if we are Bicampeones, we want more. Even if we finish the season first, we want more. We want to win everything.” 


On Friday, they held St. Louis to just 11 shots, the second fewest they’ve faced all season. While the defense put the clamps on, the offense slowly churned away, pressing extremely hard in the attacking end. They limited St. Louis’s ability to sub freely, putting an extra strain on their defensive line down the stretch.


Hugo Puentes and Jaime Alejandro Romero both added two points, which may not seem like much compared to some of their other performances this season, but on a night where defense reigned supreme, every point was crucial, and the team’s system proved its worth.


According to Martinez, “If the logo on the front is shining, the name and number on the back will too.”

Game Won and Done for San Diego, Ending Empire’s Hopes

The Sockers and Strykers squared off for a sixth time this season, with a spot on Sunday’s semifinal docket up for grabs.


San Diego, hosts extraordinaire, opened their Frontwave Arena playoff account with an impressive and meaningful win over the Strykers, who struggled to create throughout the game. Empire’s unique pseudo-sixth attacker system was rendered ineffective as San Diego shut up shop defensively. 

For the Strykers, this game was an opportunity to turn heads and make a statement. They did just that all season, but with a trophy on the line and an opponent they haven’t beaten since 2023, they struggled to find the gaps that were there all season. While they only lost by two goals, the team’s offensive performance lacked a serious threat for much of the contest. 

After falling two goals behind in the second quarter, Marco Fabián scored his side’s first goal, assisted by Leopoldo Hernandez, and for half a minute, it looked like game on. 30 seconds later, the Sockers got back on the board thanks to Gabriel Costa, and just like that, the Strykers surrendered all of their momentum going forward. Their second goal came far too late in their hunt for scraps, and all the Sockers had to do was bleed out the clock.

This is a frustrating end to Empire’s season, but it wasn’t unexpected. Their unique system, utilizing their goalkeeper as a sixth attacker, and sometimes more like a target, found and created passing lanes, but when San Diego proved they could stop it, there never appeared to be a plan B. It truly was a case of living and dying by the sword, and for next year, the Strykers will need to add something new to their repertoire or risk being yesterday’s news. 


San Diego impressed on both sides of the ball, arguably even more than Chihuahua earlier in the day. Their defense was spectacular, and while they did struggle to convert as various phases, their offense turned several low percentage chances into screamers, especially Tavoy Morgan’s second quarter goal.


Pardo was massive on the night, with seven saves from nine shots against. He’s one of the league’s very best for a reason and tonight, he showed his chops. Whether it was from close range or one of Empire’s many long distance shots, Pardo was more than equal to it with a performance fit for the playoffs. 


San Diego’s unit played a very physical game, and when they had their chances, they converted. In the playoffs, it is so important to be able to throw players forward with the confidence that you’re not exposing yourself defensively. Drew Ruggles enjoyed a great night from defense with a goal and two blocks, while Kristian Quintana, Cesar Cerda, Mitchell Cardenas, and Ben Ramin each added one.


This team doesn’t give up a ton of shots to begin with, so when push comes to shove island they’re up against the ropes, their defensive foundation will be the catalyst on offense, giving them the freedom to try what many other teams might not. They’ll take audacious attempts with confidence, while their opponents shoot from the same spot out of despiration, and in a game where every bounce matters, that mindset could just be the difference.