The San Diego Sockers fell to the Texas Outlaws 6-4 on Saturday at Mesquite Arena, forcing them into a must-win situation as their first-round playoff series heads to Pechanga Arena.
Eduardo “Pollo” Cortes stopped 29-of-33 shots for the Outlaws, who lead the best-of-three series 1-0, and can end San Diego’s season with a win at 7:35 p.m. Monday at Pechanga Arena.
The Sockers must win twice Monday in the Western Conference semifinals to keep their season alive, beating Texas – looking for its first playoff series win – in a full match to earn a 15-minute Knockout Game, which they also must win.
The Sockers (18-6-0 in the regular season) out-shot the Outlaws (11-12-1) 53-32, but were consistently turned aside by Cortes.
San Diego trailed 2-0 after the first quarter, and got within one goal twice at 3-2 and 4-3, only to fade down the stretch and lose their third match in a row dating back to the regular season, which concluded March 30.
It’s the Sockers’ longest losing streak since 2021.
The Outlaws took the lead quickly in the first quarter on a steal by Jorge DeLeon, picking up the ball off the right wall and centering to a wide-open Vini Dantas.
Former Socker Andy Reyes laced a shot into the upper netting at 11:37 for a 2-0 Texas lead. The Outlaws put on more heavy pressure in the final two minutes and Kraig Chiles missed a wide-open shot on the far post as a disappointing first frame ended.
The second quarter seemed to get off to a good start for San Diego, as Texas was whistled for defensive clearance, giving the Sockers a free kick. Chiles slid a pass to Drew Ruggles, who bent a left-footed shot through Cortes at 1:10, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
However, it took just 17 seconds for Texas to reclaim the goal, as a ball played into the San Diego zone could not be corralled. David Ortiz tapped it in at 1:27 to make it 3-1 Outlaws.
The Sockers again turned to special teams for their second goal.
Texas’ Uzi Tayou was shown a blue card for contact above the shoulders on Gabriel Costa. On the ensuing power play, Leonardo de Oliveira passed out of the low-right corner, feeding Charlie Gonzalez, who ran on the pass and slammed it past Cortes at 12:16, to make the score 3-2.
To start the third quarter, San Diego took the first four shots of the half yet Texas scored first. Darren Mitchell, who had a breakaway on goal, tucked his shot between Boris Pardo and the near post at 6:33 to push the score to 4-2.
The Sockers were repeatedly stymied by Cortes as the third quarter wore on, including a point-blank save in the final seconds. Out-shooting the Outlaws 16-3 in the third period, San Diego nonetheless failed to put a single ball past the Texas keeper.
After Pardo went post-to-post to deny an Ortiz goal, the ball came out to Brandon Escoto, who held off a defender all the way down the field, giving the ball to Chiles at the last second for a 4-3 score at 6:42.
But once again, San Diego conceded as quickly as they scored. Former Socker Emmanuel Aguirre was given a clear lane to lace a ball past Pardo for a 5-3 Texas advantage at 7:17.
The Sockers kept the pressure on Texas, lobbing a match-high 18 shots in the fourth quarter to no avail. San Diego went to a six-attacker formation with four minutes left yet conceded an empty-net goal. Ortiz struck to put Texas ahead 6-3.
Mitchell Cardenas scored for San Diego with six seconds remaining to set the final margin.
If the Sockers fall Monday, it will be their first opening-round knockout since 2015.
Tickets for Monday’s playoff start at $10 and can be purchased online or by phone at (866) 799-GOAL.
