We Have A Winner

By Dan McLellan

San Diego has never won a World Series or a Super Bowl, but three local teams that won national championships last year are polishing their rings and getting ready to defend their titles.

Three cheers for the San Diego Sockers (Professional Arena Soccer League - PASL), the cops and fireman on the Enforcers (National Public Safety Football League) and The Surge (Women’s Football Alliance - WFA).

Hosting the PASL playoffs at the Valley View Casino Center starting March 10, The Sockers (sdsockers.com) are arguably one of the most dominant professional teams in any sport. They’ve won an amazing 14 indoor soccer titles, including the past three seasons. Their historic 48-game win streak was broken earlier this year by the Dallas Sidekicks, but the Sockers got their revenge the very next week with an exciting 5-4 victory over the Sidekicks, scoring two goals in the final 41 seconds.

The Enforcers roster is comprised entirely of local law enforcement. They compete in a national league with 30 teams.

“When people find out we’re cops and firefighters, that gives them more of a reason to watch,” says fullback and team vice president Jordan Mirakian.

The Enforcers are entertaining. Safety and district attorney Shane Lynn leads a stout defense that tackles hard. The offense is capable of scoring on any play with quarterback J.J. Carrell throwing the deep ball.

Carrell and fellow Border Patrol agent Art Velez took Second Place on Amazing Race last year. “Carrell is fanatical about football,” says Mirakian. “I would have put my money on him coming back even if he had won.”

Get spring schedule updates and information about tickets (the good kind) at sandiegoenforcers.com.

The undefeated Surge dominated the WFA last season, winning the national championship in a 60-team league. The team has an explosive aerial assault, whereas most offenses in the WFA rely on more of a running attack.

“As the women’s game develops, you get better quarterbacks who are able to make those huge passes and spread the field with the football,” says general manager Knengi Martin, who plays linebacker and running back. “Our team has been very pass-friendly because we had an excellent quarterback in Melissa Gallegos. This year, we are definitely running a spread attack.”

Pass it on: the season starts in April (sandiegosurge.com).