STARS DROP CLOSE ONE IN SONORA, 8-7 IN O.T.

Hermosillo, Mexico- The Tacoma Stars (7-9) wrapped up their three-game Southwest division road trip dropping a close one to Soles de Sonora (10-6) by an 8-7 final in front of 4,000 fans Saturday night. The win extends Sonora’s win streak to eight games, second best in the MASL.

It was a game in which each team had chances to win. Sonora had a 3-2 lead after the first half and quickly extended it to 4-2 with 13:14 left in the 3rd. Back-to-back Stars goals by Raphael Cox and Joseph Cairel, who also scored the Stars’ first half goals, tied the game at 4 with 8:15 remaining in the third quarter. After Daniel Lopez scored for Sonora, Taylor Walter Bond evened the game for the Stars with no time left in the 3rd.  

A blue card to Sonora’s Brian Borrego put the Stars on the power play and Jamael Cox knocked one in with the man advantage to give the Stars the lead in the final quarter. Sonora’s goalkeeper, Bernaldino Valdovinos, came up on a Soles attack and netted his second goal of the season to knot the game 6-6. It would take the Stars just eight seconds to answer on Raphael Cox’s third goal of the game for 7-6 Stars lead with 6:39 left.

Tacoma held Sonora off the scoreboard into the final minute of regulation when Gustavo Rosales scored one second into a Soles power play to even things 7-7. It would be the second power play of the game for Sonora, this one in overtime which would prove the game winner. Franck Tayou redirected a shot with 2:18 on the clock to give Sonora the victory.

The Stars will host El Paso Friday February 2 at 7:35 as they begin a stretch of four out of their final six matches at home.

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