STARS DROP A CLOSE ONE IN EL PASO, 9-7

by Pete Richmire

EL PASO, TX. – The Tacoma Stars (4-2) went in to El Paso County Stadium on a roll after two road wins to begin a four-game road trip. The El Paso Coyotes (1-3) were a team looking for their first win of the season. After five lead changes and six tied scores, the Coyotes broke into the win column with a 9-7 victory over the Stars. 

For the third straight road game, the Stars’ opponent scored first and early. This time it was Jose Moreno who put the Coyotes on the board just 2:11 into the game. Less than two minutes later the Stars would pull even on a goal from Nick Perera. Pablo da Silva assisted on Perera’s goal for his first point as a Star. Mike Palmerin then picked up his first Star point on a goal with 8:36 left in the first, giving Tacoma a 2-1 lead. 

30 seconds into the second quarter, Jorge Rios scored the first of three goals on the night for El Paso to tie the game 2-2. The Coyotes went back in front of Tacoma with 6:49 left in the opening half on Moreno’s second of the game. The Stars leveled the game 3-3 when Michael Ramos scored on an assist from Perera with 2:23 remaining in the quarter. A two-minute tripping penalty to Palmerin put the Coyotes on the power play and they didn’t waste time. Omar Tapia scored 39 seconds into the man-advantage and El Paso was up 4-3 at the half.

Ramos brought the Stars even on a Raphael Cox assist with 11:13 left in the third. El Paso killed off a Stars power play, but Adam West scored six seconds later to give the Stars a lead at 5-4 with 8:10 left in the quarter. Rios found the net for El Paso with just 24 seconds left in the third to send the game to the final quarter tied 5-5. 

El Paso would score first in the final frame off the foot of Diego Talas. Less than a minute later West scored his second of the game for Tacoma and the game was even 6-6 with 8:28 left. Rios completed his hat trick for El Paso with 6:48 left on the clock. Moreno nailed his third of the game as well for the Coyotes less than a minute later to put the Stars down by two at 8-6. Philip Lund scored for the Stars at the 3:47 mark and Perera elected to pull keeper Danny Waltman for a 6th attacker with Tacoma trailing 8-7. 

The Stars had few good looks with the man advantage and Salas managed to put the ball across the line for the Coyotes with three seconds left in the game short-handed to give El Paso a 9-7 win.


Scoring

1st- ELP- Moreno (Salas) 2:21; TAC- Perera (da Silva) 4:20; TAC- Palmerin (Hanson) 6:24. 2nd- ELP- Rios (Tapia) 0:30; ELP- Moreno (Salas) 8:11; TAC- Ramos (Perera) 12:30; ELP- Tapia (Puentes) 13:31.

3rd- TAC- Ramos (R. Cox) 3:49; TAC- West (da Silva) 6:41; ELP- Rios 14:26.

4th- ELP- Salas (Tapia) 5:07; TAC- West (J. Cox) 6:32; ELP- Rios (Salas) 8:12; ELP- Moreno (Puentes) 8:53; TAC- Lund (da Silva) 11:03; ELP- Salas (Tapia) 14:57

 

The Stars continue their road trip in Texas on Sunday when they play the Rio Grande Valley Barracudas at 3:35 pm PST. Stars road games are streamed live on www.masl.tv with live stats available at www.maslsoccer.com.

The Stars next home action is Friday, January 11 against the Monterrey Flash. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:35 pm. Guarantee your seat to all the action by calling 1-844-STARS-84 or go to www.tacomastars.com.

Saturday January 12 is Tacoma Stars Teddy Bear Toss Night vs Ontario. Bring, or purchase your teddy bear at the accesso ShoWare Center and then when the Stars score their first goal of the game….let them fly on to the field! All stuffed animals collected will go to benefit Olive Crest and a big thank you to Spirit 105.3 FM for helping organize this great event!

There’s still time to purchase 2018-2019 Season Tickets or a Legacy Membership with the Tacoma Stars. Guarantee your seat to all the action by calling 1-844-STARS-84, or emailing info@tacomastars.com, or go to www.tacomastars.com.

Single game tickets to all Tacoma Stars home games are available. Head to tacomastars.showare.com to purchase your tickets.

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