Toth on winning side in Sockers' MASL debut

In the San Diego Sockers’ first-ever Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) game Nov. 1, Fallbrook’s Chris Toth was the winning goaltender.

Toth, a 2007 Fallbrook High School graduate as well as a Fallbrook resident, allowed four goals in 63 minutes and 57 seconds of play as the Sockers came from behind for a 5-4 sudden-death overtime victory against the Las Vegas Legends.

“It’s always good to get a win,” Toth said.

The Sockers and Legends split their two 2013-14 Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) games against each other, and both finished with 13-3 regular-season records. Because Las Vegas had a better goal differential by a single score, the Legends were declared the division champions for playoff purposes and had a home playoff game against the Sockers in the Pacific Division final. The Legends won that game by an 11-7 margin.

Las Vegas opened its 2014-15 season Oct. 26 with a 7-6 shootout victory over the Turlock Express at the Orleans Arena, so the Legends entered the Nov. 1 contest at the Valley View Casino Center (formerly the San Diego Sports Arena) with a half-game lead over the Sockers.

“We knew it was going to be close. We didn’t expect it to go into overtime,” Toth said.

The Legends took a 3-1 lead with just over six minutes elapsed in the third period, and while the Sockers narrowed the gap to a single score, the Legends scored with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter for a 4-2 margin. Sockers goals with 7:21 and 5:57 remaining in regulation tied the game.

“Coming from behind is never easy. I just tried to do my part and keep us in the game and all the rest of the guys, they do their part,” Toth said.

The 4-4 tie after 60 minutes of regulation play sent the contest to sudden-death overtime. “You never know what’s going to happen. A goal can happen any time,” Toth said.

PASL rules included a five-minute golden goal overtime followed by a penalty kick shootout if neither team scored in field overtime; the MASL has a 10-minute overtime followed by a shootout if necessary.

A play on a free kick resulted in Kraig Chiles scoring 3:57 into the overtime period. “We got a win against a tough division opponent. It’s good,” Toth said. “We know we can win a tough one.”

The 23-team MASL was created with the merger of the PASL and the Major Indoor Soccer League. Because Las Vegas’ Oct. 26 win was decided in a shootout, the Sockers’ victory against Las Vegas was the first in league history to be decided in sudden-death overtime. “I guess it goes down in the books,” Toth said.

Toth was satisfied with his performance. “Four goals in an indoor game you should be able to win. Obviously you want to save everything, but it’s difficult to get shutouts,” he said.

Toth made 11 saves against the Legends. “A save’s a save,” he said. “That stuff doesn’t really matter. It’s all about just winning the game.”

The 2013-14 season was Toth’s first season as the Sockers’ primary goalie. The Sockers opened the 2013-14 season with a 5-3 home loss against the Dallas Sidekicks. The loss was the first home defeat for the Sockers since they joined the PASL in 2009, and it was also Toth’s first loss as the Sockers’ goalkeeper after winning his first 26 games. Toth made 14 saves against Dallas, although San Diego’s three goals were the Sockers’ fewest ever in the PASL era.

“Last year we lost. It didn’t feel good,” Toth said. “It’s important to start off winning.”

Toth finished the 2013-14 regular season with a 12-3 record. His .735 save percentage ranked third among PASL goalies while his 4.89 goals against average and 205 saves ranked fourth. His save total ranked second among goalkeepers with a winning record. “I thought it was a pretty good season,” Toth said.

Toth was named to the all-PASL third team for 2013-14. “It’s just a bonus. It’s not what you play for. You play to win,” Toth said of his all-PASL honors. “The highlight for me was that the coach trusted me and gave me the starting position.”

Toth hopes to improve from the all-league third team to a higher post-season honor for 2014-15. “I’m always trying to improve and get better and win the game,” he said. “I really look at just trying to get out there and improve and try to get my team the best opportunity to win.”