STARS CONTINUE HOMESTAND ON SATURDAY VS FLASH

by Pete Richmire

TACOMA, WA. – The Stars (4-5-0) will attempt to salvage a win in three tries this season against the Monterrey Flash (7-2-2) as the teams meet for the final time during the regular-season on Saturday at the accesso ShoWare Center at 7:05 pm. In Monterrey’s previous visit to the Northwest Tacoma struggled to get their offense going and dropped a 10-3 decision on December 10 in the Stars’ second game of the season.

After that loss to the Flash, the Stars went on a three-game win streak and then their fortunes turned and Tacoma enters this game on a four-game that includes a 7-6 loss in Monterrey. Daniel Villela netted the game-winner for the Flash with 1:37 to play in that game.

For Monterrey, this will be their second game of the week following a 7-6 shoot-out loss to the surging Empire Strikers in Mexico on Thursday. It was their fifth overtime game out of their 11 games played this season. While the Flash have struggled at home with a 2-1-2 record, their five road wins (5-1-1) are tied with Empire for the most in the MASL this season.

The Flash are led offensively by Luis Angel Mendoza (10G-6A) and his 16 points. Erick Tovar (8G-4A) and Daniel Villela (8G-2A) round out Monterrey’s top three scorers, and for Villela, of his eight goals this season, five have come at the expense of the Stars.

In goal for the Flash, it’s been a keeper-by-committee situation and both of their goalminders have over 300 minutes played this season. Christian Hernandez (4-0-2, 4.88 GAA, .678 save%) and Diego Reynoso (3-2-0, 4.47 GAA, .736 save%) have each appeared in six games for Monterrey.

For the Stars, who badly need to string some wins together to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff picture, Danny Waltman remains the clear number-one keeper and has over 500 minutes in goal this season. He brings a 4-5-0 record, 5.85 GAA, and .686 save% into Saturday’s game.

Nick Perera leads the way in offensive production for the Stars with 19 points on 11 goals and eight assists. He is tops on the team in all three of those statistics. Mike Ramos (7G-4A) and Jamael Cox (7G-3A) are the other Tacoma players with 10+ point seasons.

The schedule does not get easier for the Stars after Saturday as they welcome the San Diego Sockers to the accesso ShoWare Center on February 11, followed by the Chihuahua Savage on February 17 and 19.

Tickets for all Tacoma Stars games are available at www.tacomastars.com/tickets.