STARS DROP GAME ONE TO SAN DIEGO 6-3
KENT, WA. – The Tacoma Stars (12-13) kept pace with the San Diego Sockers (24-1) through two quarters in the first game of the Pacific Division Ron Newman Cup Playoffs but were outscored 4-1 in the second half, and ultimately lost 6-3 as the series shifts to Southern California tomorrow. Tacoma was out shot by the visitors in the game by a 30-11 margin.
Tacoma opened scoring in the game when Philip Lund converted on a Raphael Cox assist with 12:14 left in the first. Cesar Cerda knocked the Sockers first goal of the match in unassisted with 4:10 remaining to level the match 1-1 after 15 minutes of play.
Things stayed even in the second quarter as well with San Diego scoring first and Tacoma responding. It was Leonardo De Oliveira for the Sockers with 10:40 to go in the half. Dan Antoniuk tied the game for Tacoma heading into the locker room.
San Diego scored the only two goals of the third quarter on markers by Hiram Ruiz and Cerda’s second of the game to take a 4-2 lead into the final 15 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter of scoring was started by Tacoma on an Adam West score to bring the Stars within one at 4-3 with 12:46 to play. San Diego regained their two-goal margin on Christian Gutierrez’s goal with 2:59 left. The final goal was San Diego’s when Raymundo Contreras found an empty net to reach the 6-3 final score.
With the win, San Diego takes a 1-0 series lead as the teams will meet up tomorrow night at Pachanga Arena San Diego at 7:00 pm.
Scoring Summary
1st Qtr - TAC Lund (Cox) 2:44; SD Cerda 10:50 SH; Penalties - SD Pino blue card (tripping) 9:47.
2nd Qtr - SD De Oliveira (Contreras) 4:20; TAC Antoniuk (Ramos) 11:44; Penalties - TAC Peterson blue card (tripping) 3:46; TAC Peterson yellow card (delay of game) 3:46; SD Chiles blue card (pushing) 4:05; TAC Waltman blue card (tripping) 12:48.
3rd Qtr - SD Ruiz (Bond) 10:52; SD Cerda 13:28; Penalties - none.
4th Qtr - TAC West (Da Silva) 2:14; SD Gutierrez (Escoto) 12:02; SD Contreras (Farber) 14:45 EN; Penalties - none.
Shots - Tacoma 4-1-3-3 (11), San Diego 7-11-6-6 (30)
Attendance - 2,412
The playoff series shifts to San Diego on Saturday April 20 at 7:00 pm. Catch all the action as the Stars battle the Sockers live on MASL.tv.
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