STARS BLASTED BY FURY 9-4 IN ONTARIO

Ontario, CA- The Tacoma Stars (8-11) kicked off their final road trip of the 2017-18 MASL season and were dropped by the Ontario Fury (10-10) by a 9-4 final in front of 1,594 in attendance. The loss drops the Stars to a game and a half behind Ontario for the second playoff spot in the Pacific division.

The Stars started strong in Citizens Business Bank Arena with first quarter goals by Taylor Walter Bond and Philip Lund to match a pair of markers from Ontario. Israel Sesay and Francisco Cordeiro scored for the Fury and the game was tied at two after the first.  

Tacoma would take their last lead of the game on Bond’s second goal of the night, his 17th of the season with 8:37 left in the first half. The Fury would then string together seven unanswered goals beginning with William Raygoza’s first goal of the season and ending with Cordeiro’s third of the game with just 2:28 left in the 4th and a 9-3 Ontario lead. Thiago Goncalves, Adrien Perez each scored to go with a pair of goals from Juan Carlos Gonzalez to account for Ontario’s other scores. Evan McNeley found the net with 1:49 remaining in the game to close out the scoring and make it a 9-4 final.  

Tonight’s loss to the Fury increases the importance of the upcoming match between these two teams next Friday at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent. The division’s second playoff spot could very well be decided that night.

Tacoma goes for the season series sweep against the Turlock Express tomorrow night at 7:05 pm to wrap up their road schedule before returning home next Friday to face Ontario. Kick off for that match is set for 7:35 pm. Fans in attendance February 23 will receive a 2017-28 Tacoma Stars team photo.

For tickets call 1-800-STARS-84 or go to www.tacomastars.com

Tacoma Stars games are streamed live on www.masl.tv with live stats available at www.maslsoccer.com.

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