Soccer News: Tonight Bernie Lilavois' PASL Team, The Anaheim Bolts, Hit the Arena For the First Time

Pro Soccer News: Anaheim Bolts are the new indoor team for Orange County in the PASL this season.  Tonight is the Anaheim Bolts' home opener at the Anaheim Convention Center's beautiful arena.  

The Bolts signed long-time San Diego Sockers star Paul Wright who will make his debut against his former teammates tonight as the Bolts take on the SD Sockers. This is the beginning of a new and possibly intense rivalry between the Anaheim Bolts and the San Diego Sockers.  The winner are clearly the fans who will enjoy all the indoor soccer action in Southern California.

SoccerNation spoke with Anaheim Bolts' Co-Owner and Head Coach Bernie Lilavois who says, "The Bolts are going to win tonight."  Of course, the two time PASL Champions, the SD Sockers say the same.  What will the final score be?

The former coach of the Stockton (California) Cougars, Lilavois is a professional soccer player himself who has enjoyed a stellar career playing for several teams in the CISL and USISL as well as for the Cougars.  According to an interview with the OC Register, Orange County's newest pro team set to begin play and Lilavois is quoted as saying, "Any coach wishes he had longer to prepare, but with the early success we had in (exhibition) play, the stage is set for us to get off to a good start." Earlier this season, the Bolts lost to the U.S. National Indoor Soccer team in a close game that ended in a shootout with the final score of 10-9 and they defeated Mexico's national team with a final score of 9-6.

“We set out to give the city of Anaheim and soccer fans a fantastic new sports franchise to be proud of,” says Lilavois. "There is a lot of excitement brewing. The PASL has great professional teams in major markets and some great rivalries. I am looking forward to tonight's game and the start of a new rivalry with San Diego."

John Kentera, General Manager of the San Diego Sockers says, "This is going to be a great game and a terrific season for PASL soccer.  Next week, we have our home opener at the Del Mar Arena in San Diego and we face the Anaheim Bolts again."

"The natural rivalry between San Diego and Anaheim should be an exciting one to watch this season." says Lilavois. "Our two teams play only 45 minutes apart and fans can easily drive to watch the San Diego Sockers and the Anaheim Bolts play against each other at either the Anaheim Convention Center or the Del Mar Arena at the San Diego Fairgrounds. It will be an interesting dynamic. The West Coast PASL season will be exciting."

While the big name in tonight's arena will be Paul Wright, the Anaheim Bolts roster includes other local area talent. Joe Allemand, a speedy forward from Brea (Brea Olinda HS/Fullerton College), Carlos Borja (Anaheim/Loara HS), the former Chivas USA defender, and forward Tomislav Colic (Vanguard University). Jesus Molina, the goalkeeper, and forward Enrique Tovar, and Adriano de Lima are also on the roster.

How did this all start? Launching a new professional indoor soccer team in Southern California was just an idea. “Everything starts with an idea. This great and crazy idea of bringing professional indoor soccer back to Orange County,” said Lilavois. “The biggest challenges has been getting the word out that we are here.  The Anaheim Bolts are the new professional team, and we'll be around for a long while.”

While the action starts today, the goal is long term success. Lilavois has his eye on the PASL playoffs and guarantees his team will be there.

“If we don't make the playoffs,” Lilavois told ESPN LA, “all season-ticket [renewals] are free. Next season is on us. It's a bold statement from an expansion team, but we [plan to be a] winning franchise, we want to lead the league in attendance. We're Soccer Town USA -- Southern California is, as far as I'm concerned.”

The Western Division teams are the San Diego Sockers, Phoenix Monsoon, Tacoma Stars, Revolucion Tijuana and Turlock Express.

The Eastern Division teams are located in Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville, suburban Kansas City, suburban St. Louis and Canton, Ohio.

The PASL season starts today and goes until late February.  Then come the playoffs, and a U.S. Open Cup competition will run concurrently. The Bolts' first-round game is tentatively set for December 3 in Anaheim.

ANAHEIM BOLTS 2011-12 PASL schedule
Nov. 12 San Diego, 8 p.m.
Nov. 19 at San Diego, 7:05 p.m.
Dec. 2 Turlock, 8 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Phoenix, 7 p.m.
Dec. 11 at Phoenix, noon
Dec. 16 at Turlock, 7:35 p.m.
Dec. 18 Tacoma, 6 p.m.
Jan. 6 Tijuana, 8 p.m.
Jan. 7 at San Diego, 7:05 p.m.
Jan. 14 at Tijuana, 5 p.m.
Jan. 27 San Diego, 8 p.m.
Jan. 28 Phoenix, 8 p.m.
Feb. 11 at Tacoma, 7 p.m.
Feb. 12 at Tacoma, 3 p.m.
Feb. 19 Tijuana, 6 p.m.
Feb. 26 Tacoma, 6 p.m.

Whether on a date or hanging out with the boys, or looking for great family enterntainment, attending a game of indoor soccer is an exciting way to spend an evening.  Tickets to the Anaheim Bolts are reasonable, starting at $12 and $14 per ticket for arena seats in the rows and $20 for floor seats that are right on top of the action. [To see the arena floor in 3D click here]

Players in indoor soccer do not make a lot of money, often earning only a few hundred dollars per game. They play for the love of the sport. The players need your support to come out and watch the games!  Tickets are still available for tonight's game through Ticketmaster, or if you want to avoid the fees you can call our box office directly. If fans want season tickets, they can call the Bolts home office at 714-321-9898

Related Article: Interview with Bernie Lilavois and Paul Wright Signed by Anaheim Bolts