McCLUSKEY'S HAT TRICK LEADS STARS TO 8-5 VICTORY

KENT, Wash. – Behind a hat trick by Vince McCluskey in his first game this season, the Tacoma Stars broke a 5-5 tie with three goals in the fourth quarter to knock off the Turlock Express 8-5 at the accesso ShoWare Center. Robert Palmer scored what proved to be the game winner early in the fourth, slotting one past Turlock keeper Santos Arteaga, and the Stars improved to 2-2 this season. Ivan Campos scored four times to lead the way for the Express.

Joey Gjertsen continued his outstanding form putting the Stars up 1-0 in the first quarter. Gjertsen added to his goals total in the third quarter, leveling the game 4-4 after Turlock took a 4-3 lead into the locker room at halftime. Nine minutes later, McCluskey scored his second of the game when he gathered a ball off of the boards from Derek Johnson to give the Stars a 5-4 lead.

But Campos answered with his fourth goal of the game just 30 seconds later and the two teams went into the fourth quarter tied up 5-5.

It was all Stars in the fourth. Derek Johnson hit Robert Palmer with a perfect pass on a dead sprint, and he finished with a rocket past Arteaga to give Tacoma a 6-5 lead. McCluskey got his hat trick with a pure effort play that saw him win a ball against the boards, keep it past multiple defenders, and work himself into position to put a little touch on a header that just barely inched past the line. Alex Megson – celebrating the birth of his daughter just days before – finished it all off with a goal with 4:48 left to play.

Joseph Cairel got into the act scoring his third goal of the season in the second quarter while Matthew Germain got a goal for the Express to round out the scoring.

Tacoma moved to 2-2 in the Pacific Division and will take a short break for Thanksgiving before taking on division leaders San Diego on Friday, December 1^st at the accesso ShoWare Center. First kick for the two West Coast rivals is set for 7:35. Tickets are available by calling 1-844-STARS-84 or visiting the Stars online at www.tacomastars.com.

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