Despite sustained pressure, the Dallas Sidekicks came up short in their effort to show they could compete with a league power as untimely penalties proved costly and they fell, 9-3, to the San Diego Sockers Saturday night at the Allen Events Center.

At times, an announced crowd of 3,568 saw that the Sidekicks were more than dangerous enough. At others, Dallas showed they could contain San Diego's attack. Ultimately, though, a series that started midway through the second period and extending into the third led to three goals that, in the end, was a bridge too far.

The Sidekicks came into the game after winning their home opener. San Diego was looking to overcome a loss to Tacoma. With both teams needing the result, two veteran clubs started off cautiously and both teams worked their way into the match, resulting in a mere four saves between the teams in the first frame.

Things opened up in the second period, and San Diego took advantage of some good fortune to the tune of two goals. The first was 5:27 into the period as Brandon Escoto was given a golden opportunity when Christian Gutierrez fired wide, but his shot went right to Escoto for the put-back. The second was even easier as Kriag Chiles had his own rebound come back to him for the second goal of the night in the ninth minute of the period.

A penalty on San Diego's Guerrero Pino gave Dallas an opening, and while they did not score during the power play itself, the Sidekicks scored moments after it expired when Cody Ellis shot as Pino was running into the field. The ball bounced to Jamie Lovegrove who shot and VcMor Eligwe put the rebound home.

For much of the remainder of the half, it appeared that the game might go into the break at 2-1, but then Cameron Brown was called for a two-footed tackle and shown a blue card at 13:05. San Diego scored six seconds later on a clinical finish to make it 3-1 through Chiles again.

After halftime, San Diego absorbed some early pressure before getting a breakaway that forced Fernando Garza to foul Escoto, and Chiles scored on the resulting shootout to make it 4-1 a mere 1:23 into the half. Reymundo Reyes then made it 5-1 at 2:53.

After that, the game turned feisty, resulting in a handful of fouls and confrontations. Then back to back power plays on Luis Ortega and Hiram Ruiz gave Dallas a chance to get back in the game. Once again, they were not able to score with the man advantage but scored soon thereafter through Eligwe. A hard shift from everyone on the field finished with Eligwe putting home a Kristian Quintana shot from inside the Sockers' penalty area with 10:04 played in the third, and it seemed Dallas might claw their way back into the game.

Any chance Sidekicks had, though, died when Quintana was pressured in Dallas' defensive zone and played a ball out of bounds from Dallas end, resulting in a free kick from the top of the arc for San Diego. A well-worked goal from Gutierrez through a Chiles assist 1:39 into the fourth made it 6-2, and the rout was on.

The remaining goals were breakdowns as Dallas tried to throw numbers forward to get back into the game. Dallas went to the 6th attacker via Ellis with 7:30 to play in the game when the score was 8-2.

Lovegrove scored with less than a minute remaining, leading to the final tally.

Jamie Lovegrove checks the scoreboard against the San Diego Sockers. (12/26/18) (Michael Lark / Dallas Sidekicks)

After the result, Dallas remains in second place despite the loss. The Sockers move into sole possession of second in the Pacific Division. The Sidekicks have a few days to shake off this result before they have to travel to El Paso in a game they almost have to win on Saturday.