Sidekicks Lose To Sonora
Allen, TEXAS – With a 13-4 loss to Soles de Sonora on Saturday night, the Sidekicks fall below .500 with five games remaining in the regular season. The Sidekicks (7-8) put out a valiant effort in front of 4,486 at Allen Event Center, but it was not enough to overcome the Pacific Division-leading Sonora (13-2).
Sonora forward and the MASL’s leading goal scorer Franck Tayou was the first to tally, tapping in a pass from Daniel Lopez five minutes into the game. Sidekicks leading scorer Cameron Brown struck back with a very similar goal a few minutes later. Both goalscorers were issued blue cards late in the quarter and Sonora capitalized, Lopez scoring on a rebound off of Sidekicks goalkeeper Juan Gamboa.
The visiting team was quick to score in the second quarter Enrique Cañez, with a goal at 1:36. Their second of the quarter was put in by David Parente at 5:47. A few minutes later Sidekicks defender TJ Nelson notched his first goal of the season with an assist from Ricardinho to bring thr score to 4-2 Sonora going into halftime.
Sonora continued their trend of early scoring, Tayo notching his second of the night just 34 seconds into the third quarter. Midfielder Christian Segura followed up with a goal of his own at 10:47. The Sidekicks went
on the powerplay to close out the quarter, and during the carryover early in the fourth they capitalized, defender Cody Ellis putting it in. Sonora followed with a flurry of offense, scoring three goals in 47 seconds – Tayou, Hernandez and Gustavo Rosales all tallying. With a little over eight minutes remaining in the match the Sidekicks decided to pull Gamboa and insert Ellis as a sixth attacker in an attempt to generate offense, but the results were heavily in favor of Sonora, Cañez scoring twice to complete a hat trick, Lopez getting his second of the night, Tayou his fourth. Sidekicks defender Fabinho added to Dallas’ tally, but it was not enough to overcome the lead Sonora had built up, the team taking a 13-4 win.
After a week of rest, the Sidekicks are gearing up hit the road in what will be a tough back-to-back pair of games. The team will travel to Las Vegas for a 5:35 p.m. match vs. the Legends (11-3) on Feb. 12, then make their way south to Ontario, CA to take on the Fury (8-5) the next evening at 8:05 p.m. Both games will be available to stream at www.golivesportscast.com.
The Sidekicks are back in action at Allen Event Center on Thursday, Feb 25 to take on the Milwaukee Wave (9-5) at 7:35pm for their last regular season home game..
To team will finish out the season on the road with another tough back-to-back, going south for a rematch vs. Sonora on Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., then facing a quick turnaround with a game in San Diego the next afternoon at 4 p.m.
