San Diego Sockers defeated Milwaukee Wave 10-3 in the MASL final match, securing their 18th indoor soccer title. The Sockers dominated the first half with six consecutive goals.
Key points
San Diego Sockers won the MASL final match
Final score was 10-3 against Milwaukee Wave
Sockers scored six consecutive goals in the first half
Match took place at Frontwave Arena in California
This victory marks Sockers' 18th indoor soccer title
Mentioned in this story
Frontwave ArenaOceanside, California
Milwaukee WaveSan Diego SockersMASL
Milwaukee Wave has no answer for San Diego Sockers in MASL final match
Everything the Milwaukee Wave did to force a third match in the MASL championship series went the wrong way once the Wave got there.
The San Diego Sockers, back at full strength with three players returning from suspensions, scored six straight goals in the first half and pulled out to a 10-3 victory April 27 at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.
The title was San Diego’s 18th across indoor soccer and third in the MASL.
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Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher (44) controls the ball.
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) plays the ball with his head.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Sanchez (80) shoots past two San Diego Sockers defenders.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Shawn Azcueta (6) stretches to block a shot by San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin.
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) and defender Stuart Grable (12) celebrate with midfielder Cesar Correa after he scored the team’s first goal.
San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1) pulls the ball out of the air in front of teammate Drew Ruggles and Milwaukee Wave forward Max Ferdinand.
San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) talks with Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett during the game, suggesting Wave players were flopping at the hint of a foul.
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett kisses the ball after scoring.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) heads the ball to forward Ian Bennett (26) who scored past San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1), pulling the Wave within 4-3.
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) celebrates after his header to forward Ian Bennett scored a goal.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher (97) works against San Diego Sockers midfielders Sebastian Mendez (fallen) and Jesus Pacheco.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Tanner Hodgson (76) and San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda tangle at the ball.
Milwaukee Wave defender Tony Walls (20) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers forward Nick Perera.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) works with the ball against San Diego Sockers.
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) celebrates his goal late in the fourth quarter.
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira.
San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin (9) walks away angrily and Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) is restrained by goalkeeper William Banahene as tempers flare after the game.
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) holds back San Diego Sockers midfielder Sebastian Mendez (13) in the tussle after the game.
San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave players exchange words.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) moves the ball past San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) in MASL finals Game 1 on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. San Diego won, 5-4.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher (44) controls the ball.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) plays the ball with his head.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Sanchez (80) shoots past two San Diego Sockers defenders.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Shawn Azcueta (6) stretches to block a shot by San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) and defender Stuart Grable (12) celebrate with midfielder Cesar Correa after he scored the team’s first goal.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1) pulls the ball out of the air in front of teammate Drew Ruggles and Milwaukee Wave forward Max Ferdinand.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda (29) talks with Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett during the game, suggesting Wave players were flopping at the hint of a foul.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett kisses the ball after scoring.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) heads the ball to forward Ian Bennett (26) who scored past San Diego Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth (1), pulling the Wave within 4-3.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Oscar Flores (16) celebrates after his header to forward Ian Bennett scored a goal.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Javier Steinwascher (97) works against San Diego Sockers midfielders Sebastian Mendez (fallen) and Jesus Pacheco.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Tanner Hodgson (76) and San Diego Sockers defender Cesar Cerda tangle at the ball.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave defender Tony Walls (20) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers forward Nick Perera.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) works with the ball against San Diego Sockers.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave goalkeeper Gerardo Perez (30) celebrates his goal late in the fourth quarter.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Cesar Correa (15) heads the ball in front of San Diego Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
San Diego Sockers forward Tavoy Martin (9) walks away angrily and Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett (26) is restrained by goalkeeper William Banahene as tempers flare after the game.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) holds back San Diego Sockers midfielder Sebastian Mendez (13) in the tussle after the game.
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Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave players exchange words.
This time the Sockers came out with intensity and precision.
The Sockers beat the Wave at “Jerry Ball,” scoring their first goal less than five minutes into the game by picking up a turnover behind Milwaukee goalkeeper Jerry Perez, who had come forward as a sixth attacker. Sebastian Mendez comfortably put the ball past a sliding Alex Sanchez from the left wing.
Although defender Mario Alvarez pulled the Wave even, Drew Ruggles answered with a one-timer on the run 39 seconds later. Then the Sockers quickly pulled away as shots like those that had bounced away harmlessly three nights earlier found the net this time.
Milwaukee finally picked up goals from Max Ludwig and Ian Bennett in the fourth quarter, but Mendez capped his hat trick and made the score 8-3 with less than six minutes left to play, ending any dream of a rally.
So after coming back to win their first two playoff series to advance, the Wave fell one game short in a finals series between the two teams with which first-year head coach Marcio Leite had won championships as a player.
