GUADALAJARA 7 CALIFORNIA 5 F

The California Cougars valiant championship defense came to an end in San Diego, but not at the hands of their rival Sockers.

La Raza de Guadalajara, the Mexican national champions, bottled up the Cougars offense even when they went to their potent sixth attacker formation with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Nelson Santana, the Cougars playoff savior in the quarterfinals, netted a hat trick and his first two gave California a 2-0 lead in the second quarter.  That lead did not last and the Cougars went into halftime trailing 3-2.

Quintin Vazquez’s third goal of the game gave La Raza a 5-3 lead in the third quarter.  Uriel Robledo cut the score to 5-4 late in the third quarter.

In the fourth Rodrigo Flores scored with 9:54 to go to stretch the lead to 6-4.  The Cougars immediately went to Santana as the extra attacker and the score remained the same for several minutes until Craig Scheer needed an intentional foul to stop a La Raza breakaway and a shootout was awarded.  Carlos Martinez chipped Santana on a clever flick to give La Raza a 7-4 lead.

Santana and the Cougars last gasp came a minute later when his forceful blast got California within 7-5, but that’s where the magic would end.

La Raza will play in the final of the North American Championship against the winner of San Diego and Estado de Mexico.

SAN DIEGO 6 SIDEKICKS 5 F

Miguel "Chiky" Luna scored on a free kick triggered by Aaron Susi to break a 5-5 tie and give the San Diego Sockers a win over Sidekicks del Estado de Mexico and a berth in the final of the North American Championships.

The Sockers, who trailed 4-3 at halftime, rallied for a 5-4 lead and held the Sidekicks scoreless until 54 seconds left in regulation.

The Sidekicks led 4-2 in the first half and two Kraig Chiles goals tied the game.  Chiles finished with three goals, and Paul Wright and Dan Antoniuk added singles.

Riley Swift anchored a focused Sockers defense with 16 saves.

The Sockers will play Saturday night at 6:15pm to try to capture their first championship since 1992.