Published 1/27/2013 11:17:19 PM by Shane Barrow from soccermogul

And the mighty have fallen.  The longest winstreak in American pro sports history ended Sunday evening in Allen as the Dallas Sidekicks defeated the San Diego Sockers 6-5 in overtime.

It was en epic indoor soccer battle featuring the longtime PASL title holders San Diego Sockers and the upstart Dallas Sidekicks making their return to indoor soccer after several years off.  The Sidekicks opened the season reeling off eight straight victories and were looking to cement their place as one of the PASL elite Sunday evening.  

Mission Accomplished.

The Sidekicks were clearly motivated and took the game to the Sockers in the opening period of play.  Jamie Lovegrove was flying all night long giving the Sockers defenders fits.  He opened the scoring 5 minutes into the match as the rifled a shot off the backpost and into the net.  He could not have placed it any better as Sockers keeper Riley Swift had no chance at the rocket.

Just minutes later it was 2-0 Dallas as a defensive mixup cost San Diego.  Swift played a square ball across the red line to a defender who failed to come meet the pass.  Shaun David raced in and poked the ball into the empty net.  The first quarter ended 2-0 to Dallas, but the Sockers would rally.

The second period was all San Diego.  After both sides failed to score on power plays the Sockers struck twice in quick succession.  This time it was a defensive mistake from Dallas that led to a goal as Kraig Chiles took the ball off defender Cody Ellis and finished past Sagu.  San Diego was on the front foot from there and less than two minutes later the game was tied on a great strike from Anthony Medina.  It was a 2-2 halftime score.

The third period saw a barrage of goals as the two teams went back and forth.  Jamie Lovegrove scored only a minute into the second half finishing a perfect wall pass from Renato Pereira.  He notched his hat trick just seconds later getting on the end of a longball from Cody Ellis.  It looked like Dallas might run away with this one.

But the Sockers don't have a 48 match winstreak by rolling over.  The champions responded as Raymundo Reza matched Lovegrove's two goals with a pair of his own and we were tied once again 4-4.  There was still one more goal to come in the period as star of the game Lovegrove would score his 4th goal of the night and give Dallas a 5-4 lead into the final quarter of play.

The 4th quarter ticked along with the Sidekicks clinging to their slim lead.  San Diego pushed for the tying goal only to see Ze Roberto's shot bounce off the post midway through the period.  San Diego was forced to remove goalkeeper Swift and bring on 6th attacker Aaron Susi for the final two minutes of play in an effort to tie the game.  

Dallas looked to be safe as they had possession and called a timeout with only 27 seconds left to play.  Sagu played a longball deep into the Sockers corner where Shaun David fought to hold the ball.  Time ticked away as the ball popped 20 feet into the air and Susi snatched it.  

What followed was a counter-attack for the ages.  Only ten seconds remained as Susi tossed the ball long the ball was flicked to the racing Brian Farber who created a 2 on 1.  Where was the Dallas defense?  They should have had four players back, but they were somehow caught by complete surprise.  

Farber raced in and slipped the ball the the leading scorer in PASL Kraig Chiles who fired low past Sagu and the match was tied with only six seconds remaining.  We were heading to overtime as the Sidekicks stood stunned.

Was San Diego going to be able to rescue the longest winstreak in US sports history?  The momentum was on their side as the extra frame began.  San Diego was pushing for the winning goal when after two and a half minutes Dallas produced a counter-attack of their own.  Dallas keeper Sagu handled a ball and threw long for the racing Shaun David who was behind the San Diego defense.  David zoomed in on goal and shot as keeper Riley Swift stood tall to meet him.  The ball glanced off Swift and trickled into the San Diego net for the winning goal.  The streak was over as Dallas celebrated wildly.

Jamie Lovegrove notched four goals in the win while Sagu made 16 saves in goal.  San Diego will have a chance to avenge the loss in only a few days as Dallas makes the trip to San Diego next Friday night.  Expect a highly motivated Sockers side.

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