Indoor Soccer News: Sockers' Swift Named PASL Playoff MVP

It probably comes as no surprise to anyone who attended the 2012 PASL Championships last weekend that San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Riley Swift has been named the 2012 Playoff MVP, an honor he previously won in 2010. Swift amassed 31 saves in two playoff matches to help the Sockers defeat Kansas Magic 9-6 in the semifinals and Detroit Waza 10-7 in the finals. His solid work against two determined opponents allowed the San Diego offense to work its own brand of magic to take the first Ron Newman Cup and their 13^th overall indoor title.

Swift finished the season undefeated, finishing with a 10-0 PASL record and a 5.86 Goals Against Average, third best in the league behind teammate Chris Toth (6-0, 3.23 GAA) and Detroit’s Vito Lonigro (8-1, 5.84 GAA). Swift was also named to the 2011-2012 All-PASL Second Team. In the Kansas game Swift stopped 20 shots against the Magic and followed that with 11 saves against Detroit.

But what really mattered was the Sockers final 18-0 record through the regular season and playoffs. Between Swift and Toth, the Sockers have not surrendered a match since December, 2010, an amazing 36 consecutive victories. San Diego now ranks second all-time for consecutive wins by a United States professional team, behind the 2005-2008 Sioux Falls Storm of United Indoor Football and ahead of the 1972-1973 Los Angeles Lakers.

The Sockers have one last match this season as they take on the Cincinnati Kings on Saturday, March 17, in the U.S. Open Arena Cup finals in Cincinnati. San Diego will be going for their third trophy of the year, along with the Ron Newman Cup and the FIFRA Club Championship they won earlier in Monterrey, Mexico.

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