Legion salutes record rugby crowd

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: February 20, 2023

San Diego Legend courtesy photo

2023 LOCAL PROS / LEGION Rugby, SOCKERS Arena soccer / GULLS Hockey / SEALS Indoor Lacrosse

From staff and wire reports

MISSION VALLEY — The San Diego Legion of the American Professional Rugby Union (aka Major League Rugby) not only captured their season debut on Saturday (Feb. 18), the franchise also established a league record for the largest crown ever.

With many fans desiring to enjoy the brand-new Snapdragon Stadium — it debuted with San Diego State University football in the fall, San Diego also enjoyed a solid effort from the Legion, defeating the Utah Warriors, 33-17.

The crown? Try a MLR record 11,423 tickets sold, with many more in attendance like club sponsors.

The total smashed the old mark of 7,389 from the 2021 MLR Championship Final.

The Legion return to action next Sunday at Snapdragon against New England Free Jacks. Note the earlier starting time of 1 p.m.

Watch each try by the Legion HERE:

SOCKERS – MASL Arena soccer

MESQUITE, Texas – Tatu, the Brazilian-born indoor soccer great with more than 40 seasons as a player, head coach and executive in a Hall of Fame career continue to know a thing or two on how to win. Better, how to avoid losing.

Moments after the San Diego Sockers scored the final of three consecutive goals to take a 5-4 leadin a battle of Western Conference leaders in Major Arena Soccer League action, Tatu surprised many by asking for a video challenge.

However, it was the goal he disputed — it was an obvious slam-dunk slammer into the wide-side of the net, Tatu asked for a foul on the play when San Diego stole the ball to ignite the counter-attack.

Not only did he win the challenge, his Mesquite Outlaws then answered with a goal, downing the visiting Sockers, 6-5, at Mesquite Arena,

Tied at 2-all, Mesquite received third-period goals from Erik Macias and Felipe De Silva to take the lead, but San Diego roared back.

The Sockers’ Felipe Gonzalez (assist Ismael Rojo) drew one goal back in the final minute of the third period, then Leonardo De Oliveira (assist Charlie Gonzalez) tied it for a second in a span of 2:06.

The goal so frustrated the Mesquite goals, he punted the ball into the arena raftors, receiving a 5-minute yellow card — goalies need to serve their penalties in MASL play.

So with the back keeper in the net, De Oliveira scored again. However, the disallowed goal swung the momentum back to the Outlaws, on goals by Sebastian Mendez and Lucas Ramalho.

San Diego did gain a chance to force overtime late on a goal by Christian Gutierrez (assist Luis Ortega), but they fell just short.

The Sockers continue their longest road trip of the season with two games in Mexico this week,f acing theChihuahua Savage in Lugano, then the Monterrey Flash.

SEALS NLL – Indoor lacrosse

SAN DIEGO – The Saskatchewan Rush registered three unanswered goals in the first quater, then kept the lead throughout to avenge an earlier loss to the San Diego Seals, 16-11, at Pechanga Arena.

Three different players recorded hat tricks for Saskatchewan (5-3EC). For San Diego (6-2), Dane Dobbie scored five times, but the rest of the team never got untracked. Still, the Seals remain in first place in the NLL West Division, holding a percentage points lead over the Calgary Roughnecks (7-3).

San Diego’s next home gameis the historic outdoor “indoor lacrosse” game at Snapdragon Stadium on March 4. READ THERE for details.

GULLS – AHL Hockey

SAN DIEGO- The San Diego Gulls dropped their final game of the homestand, falling to the Bakersfield Condors, 8-4, Sunday (Feb. 19) at Pechanga Arena,