3/15/09 - STOCKTON 13 CINCINNATI 5

The Stockton Cougars won the inaugural Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL-Pro) North American Championship, defeating 1790 Cincinnati at Stockton Arena.

Cougars goalkeeper Jesus Molina was named Playoff MVP for his heroic play in yesterday’s 10-9 overtime win over Edmonton and his strong second quarter today that kept Stockton in the game before the offense put the outcome out of reach early in the third quarter.

Aaron Susi, who scored the sudden death game winner on Saturday and had a hat trick today received string consideration as did Bernie Lilavois, the overall tournament scoring leader, and Ato Leone.

Cincinnati took an early 1-0 lead on Sam Fiore’s goal at 2:49, but the Cougars answered with four straight goals and never relinquished their league.  Susi also got credit for today’s game-winning goal thanks to two fourth quarter 1790 goals.

The first half ended with the Cougars in command at 5-2 and that score held up until Susi’s first goal of the game at 8:29 of the third quarter.  The floodgates opened from there with Leone, Susi, and Majell Aterado scoring in short order to balloon the lead to 9-2.

The game was something of an anti-climax after yesterday’s semifinals barnburner in which the Cougars thought they won a walk-off goal at the end of regulation only to set off a second wild celebration on Susi’s winner from the far side midway through sudden death.

Stockton finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, one game off league leader Cincinnati who won the Eastern Division with a 13-3 record.  Stockton edged Edmonton and Cincinnati beat Tigres Dorados MRCI Oaxaca to advance to today’s championship game.

Jeff Henderson had a standout night for Cincinnati with 11 blocks.  1790 was without player/coach Craig Rhodis who aggravated an injury in Saturday’s game.

Following the game PASL-Pro Commissioner Kevin Milliken thanks both clubs for a hard fought game and a brilliant first season.  He then presented the Playoff MVP to Molina, which he also did after the second PASL-Premier national tournament in 1999 when Molina was with Santa Rosa.

He then called out Cougars owner Jim Rachels to accept the PASL-Pro Championship Trophy.

The championship is the first for Stockton in their four-year history.  This year marked the first time that the Western Division championship Cougars have qualified for postseason.