Escoto Gets Last-Second Game-Winning Goal

The Pacific Division Champion San Diego Sockers used Brandon Escoto's game-winning power-play goal with 35 seconds remaining to edge the Florida Tropics 5-4 on Saturday night at RP Funding Center in Lakeland, FL. San Diego moves to 16-3, while Florida drops to 9-9 and possibly out of postseason contention.

The match seemed to be headed to overtime after Florida's Anthony Arico tied the score at four at 13:43 in the fourth. However, San Diego's potent power-play unit was still on the field when from the right side John Sosa passed to Escoto, who buried his shot into the roof of the goal for the winning marker.

With two beautiful first-half goals, Brian Farber was the man of the match until Escoto's heroics. Chad Hagerty added a goal at 4:04 in the second to stake San Diego to a 3-1 halftime lead. 

When Hiram Ruiz opened the third period with an early goal at 52 seconds, it looked like the Sockers were going to cruise to an easy victory.  But the Tropics did not go down without a fight and tallied three consecutive times to pull even with 1:17 left. San Diego's defense looked slow and tired in the final period, which allowed Florida the opportunity to come back. In addition to Arico, three other Tropics' players scored including Ricardinho Cavalcante,  Guilherme Dos Santos, and Mauricio Salles.

Goalkeeper Chris Toth got his eighth win of the campaign by stopping six Tropics shots. Florida's Piotr Silwa was forced to make 10 saves in the loss.

San Diego plays two of their last three matches at home beginning next Saturday, February 24, 7:05 at Valley View Casino Center versus Rio Grande Valley. This game was rescheduled twice, so tickets that were issued or purchased for February 2nd or 22nd will be honored. It will be $2 Bud Light Night, and the first 2,000 Supporters will receive a FREE pair of Sockers Sunglasses. 

SCORING

SHOTS

3 STARS

1^ST STAR

Brian Farber

G: 2   A: 0   PTS: 2  

San Diego

2^ND STAR

Anthony Arico

G: 1   A: 1   PTS: 2  

Florida

3^RD STAR

Brandon Escoto

G: 1   A: 0   PTS: 1  

San Diego

SCORING SUMMARY