Ontario, Calif. — The Empire Strykers open their 2025–26 Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) season with a high-stakes road clash against long-time rivals San Diego Sockers on Friday night, a fitting opening trial for a club aiming to build on last year’s revitalized run under Head Coach Onua Obasi.
Empire visits San Diego on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. PST. The match airs exclusively in the U.S. on CBS Sports Golazo Network, in Mexico on FOX Sports 2, and internationally on Sportworld or Unbeaten Network.
Obasi’s Impact and a New Chapter
A former MASL standout—who briefly featured for the then-Ontario Fury during an injury-impacted stint—Obasi took the reins last fall after leading Newtown Pride FC to victory at the inaugural The Soccer Tournament (TST) in 2023. The bold hire paid off immediately.
Obasi guided Empire to its first playoff berth since 2021 and installed a dynamic, forward-thinking style that frequently pushed goalkeepers into the attack. His success earned him MASL Coach of the Year honors for 2024–25.
This season, Obasi must blend the returning core with a wave of new additions while filling the void left by key departures.
Roster Turnover and New Arrivals
The Strykers bid farewell to several veterans, including club legend Israel Sesay, who retired after limited action last season. Long-time MASL presence Alex Bradley also exited following an injury-plagued campaign. Midfielder Quenton Swift and defender Emmanuel Aguirre—second on the squad in blocks (15)—departed as well.
Empire also never saw former MASL MVP Genaro Castillo debut due to visa complications.
In all, nine players moved on from last season’s roster. Six new signings arrive to fill the gaps, highlighted by proven MASL talents Ant Powell, Lucas Ramalho, and Steven Chávez. Chávez, a free-agent pickup from the now-folded Texas Outlaws, is coming off a breakout year with 29 points and career highs across the board.
“We added a lot of pieces and might add a couple more,” Obasi said. “We lost guys who played meaningful minutes, but we replaced them with proven quantities. The new additions bring instant quality.”
Obasi noted the need for new connections to form but praised the continuity of his returning core.
Key Contributors Returning
Robert Palmer, Empire’s on-field anchor, returns after finishing tied for second league-wide in assists (21) and posting 1.2 points per game. Defensively, he ranked fifth in the MASL with 51 blocks. Newcomer Chávez registered the second-highest block total (15) among current Strykers.
The attack is powered by 2025 All-Stars Marco Fabián and Justin Stinson.
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Fabián finished top-10 in the MASL in points per game (1.95), points (41), and goals (25).
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Stinson ranked second in the league in goals (32), top-five in points (43), and added three power-play tallies.
Empire’s goalkeeper trio continues to be a tactical weapon.
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Brian Orozco posted three goals and an assist last year.
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Brandon Gomez added two goals and two assists.
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Claysson De Lima chipped in four assists.
Narrow Margins Against San Diego
While Empire went 0–6 against the Sockers last season, five matches were decided by two goals or fewer. The outlier—a 10–7 defeat on March 22—came after Empire led 7–5 early in the fourth quarter.
The following day, Empire nearly completed a stunning comeback from 1–6 down, ultimately falling in golden goal, 9–8. That match also served as a farewell to Sesay and drew a club-record crowd of 7,387, the highest MASL attendance of the season.
San Diego later eliminated Empire 4–2 in the playoffs.
“Our margin for error is small against San Diego — especially away,” Obasi said. “Frontwave Arena is the hardest place to play in the league.”
The Opponent: San Diego Sockers
The Sockers remain one of the most accomplished franchises in MASL history, never missing the playoffs and capturing titles in 2021 and 2022. Last season, they reached the finals before falling to Chihuahua.
San Diego retained most of its roster and strengthened further with the additions of midfielder Jesus Pacheco, goalkeeper Chris Toth, and target forward Nick Perera—two of the league’s most decorated figures. Both Toth and Perera are local products and former MASL stars with Tacoma.
“They have a core that’s won a lot of games,” Obasi said. “On paper, they just got stronger.”
The San Diego defense remains elite, anchored by Ben Ramin, Kristian Quintana, and Cesar Cerda, protecting veteran keepers Boris Pardo and Chris Toth.
The attack features a formidable group:
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Nick Perera led current Sockers with 38 points and 20 assists, ranking top-five league-wide.
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Former Fury standout Charlie Gonzalez posted 36 points.
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Tavoy Morgan added 26 goals and 33 points.
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Kraig Chiles and Luis Morales each recorded three power-play goals.
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Leonardo De Oliveira tied for eighth in assists (19).
Empire’s all-time record vs. San Diego stands at 9–47, including a 2–3 postseason mark.
The Road Ahead
History suggests Empire faces a steep challenge in Friday’s opener, but Obasi believes his squad is better prepared.
“They’re so connected,” he said. “We have to disrupt their rhythm. We didn’t do that last year. Hopefully we can show them something new and give ourselves a real chance.”
Empire returns home on Friday, December 12, again hosting San Diego in its 2025–26 home opener. Season and single-game tickets are available now.
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