The Milwaukee Wave and San Diego Sockers game ended in chaos as players clashed and fans got involved after the Sockers' 5-4 victory. The incident escalated with debris thrown and police requested for security.
Key points
Milwaukee Wave faced San Diego Sockers in Game 1 of MASL championship
Game ended with a 5-4 victory for the Sockers
Altercation involved players and fans after a controversial play
Debris was thrown, striking at least one fan and a player
Police were requested to assist security at the arena
Milwaukee WaveSan Diego SockersMASL
Shoves escalated between the Milwaukee Wave and San Diego Sockers and fans got involved in the unpleasantries, turning the conclusion of Game 1 of the MASL championship series ugly.
In the final seconds of the Sockers’ 5-4 victory April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena, Wave defender Tony Walls took a kick to the groin on a play that ended any chance for a traditional exchange of handshakes and hugs.
Spirited jawing turned into jostling between players, and at least one fan and one Sockers player apparently were struck by thrown debris. Wave players followed the Sockers players into the tunnel leading to their dressing room, and a security officer requested the presence of police who were at the Arena.
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.
Q&A
What caused the altercation between the Milwaukee Wave and San Diego Sockers?
The altercation was triggered by a kick to the groin received by Wave defender Tony Walls, leading to shoving and fan involvement.
What was the final score of Game 1 between the Wave and Sockers?
The final score of Game 1 was 5-4 in favor of the San Diego Sockers.
How did fans get involved in the incident after the game?
Fans got involved as debris was thrown, and at least one fan and one Sockers player were reportedly struck.
What actions were taken by security during the incident?
A security officer requested police presence at the UWM Panther Arena to manage the escalating situation.
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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.
1 / 20
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.
1 / 20
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.
2 / 20
Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave midfielder Alex Steinwascher (44) controls the ball.
3 / 20
Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Andre Hayne (99) plays the ball with his head.
4 / 20
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.
5 / 20
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.
6 / 20
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.
7 / 20
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.
8 / 20
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.
9 / 20
Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
Milwaukee Wave forward Ian Bennett kisses the ball after scoring.
10 / 20
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.
11 / 20
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.
12 / 20
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.
13 / 20
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.
14 / 20
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.
15 / 20
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.
16 / 20
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.
17 / 20
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.
18 / 20
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.
19 / 20
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.
20 / 20
Milwaukee Wave hosts San Diego Sockers in MASL championship series Game 1
San Diego Sockers and Milwaukee Wave players exchange words.
At the same time, officials were reviewing the play. Several minutes after the game the announcement came that Sockers defender Cesar Cerda had been issued a red card for violent conduct, making him ineligible for Game 2 on April 24 in Oceanside, California.
“It just got heated at the end [between] two high-level teams,” veteran Wave forward Ian Bennett said. “They're very competitive, and who wants to win it? The rest, it was a hard game to ref, right? Because it's a big game. It's big final. Emotions are there.
“To be honest, our emotions got the best of us, because we’ve got to be smarter than that, right? We don't need to play in their hands, but kudos to them, they won, and we just got to regroup and lick our wounds and come back on Friday ready to go.”
A loud and larger-than-usual crowd turned out for the final home game of 2025-26.
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 MASL finals Game 1 on April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena.
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 MASL finals Game 1 on April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena.
Two quick goals by Bennett early in the fourth quarter pulled the Wave within a goal at 4-3, but Milwaukee couldn’t maintain the spark, and Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira turned the momentum back around with 5 ½ minutes left. The Wave killed a two-minute San Diego power play resulting from too many men on the field, but by the time goalkeeper Jerry Perez gave the Wave another goal, just 33 seconds remained.
So now for the Wave to win an eighth arena soccer title, it must win back-to-back against the team that finished the regular season with the best record.
Milwaukee lost the opening game of its quarterfinal and semifinal series and won a regulation game followed by a quarter-length knockout game each time to advance. But those were at home; this time they’ll go on the road to play against the team that finished with the best record in the regular season. Game 3 would be a full-length game April 27.
“Very difficult,” first-year Wave head coach Marcio Leite said of the challenge that awaits.
“We’ve done it before. We beat them in their house. But we need to be smarter. And we need to play better. … We need to create better chances, then we need to make sure our shots are on target.”
