Sockers Top Stars In San Diego, 5-3

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Tacoma Stars (4-2) fell on the road to the San Diego Sockers (5-2) by a final score of 5-3 on Friday night at the Valley View Casino Center.

The Stars secured goals from three separate players in the match, while goalkeeper Danny Waltman contributed 15 saves on 20 shots across 60 minutes in goal.

San Diego forward Kraig Chiles earned a brace within the first 11 minutes of the match, scoring twice to put the Sockers out in front early, 2-0. Midfielder Raymundo Reza added one more tally to the Sockers lead with a goal in the closing minutes of the first quarter, extending San Diego’s advantage to 3-1.

A surge in pressure from the Stars offense throughout the second quarter paid off late in the period when midfielder Jamael Cox sent a ball past Chris Toth for Tacoma’s first goal of the night, cutting the Sockers lead to 3-1 going into halftime.

Tacoma opened the second half with back-to-back goals, a power play score from forward Alex Megson and an unassisted goal from midfielder Derek Johnson, to tie the match at 3-3.

However, Chiles would score twice more - once in the third period and again in the fourth – to give himself a hat trick and then some while earning the Sockers a 5-3 Pacific Division victory.

The win vaulted the Sockers back into first place in the Pacific Division, one game ahead of the Stars.

Tacoma wraps up their four-game road trip with a visit to Atletico Baja this Sunday, Dec. 4 with a first kick scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT.

 Single game tickets, season ticket packages, group outings, family packs, and suite offerings for the Tacoma Stars 2016-17 season are available now. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online at www.tacomastars.com. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Stars can be found by following the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or liking the team on Facebook.