STARS FALL TO FURY 10-7 IN ONTARIO’S HOME OPENER
ONTARIO, CA. – The Tacoma Stars (2-2) traveled to Ontario Friday night and came up short in a high scoring match with the Ontario Fury (1-2). Franck Tayou led the goal fest with five goals for the Fury. The Stars Nick Perera logged a hat-trick of his own to go with a pair of assists for the Stars in the 10-7 loss to the Fury. Tacoma outshot the Fury 36-20 testing Ontario keeper Chris Toth throughout the game.
Just like the last meeting between these teams only six days earlier, the first quarter of this match finished in a 1-1 tie. Ontario opened scoring with 9:57 left in the frame on Franck Tayou’s third goal of the season with the assist credited to Justin Stinson. Ontario keeper Chris Toth almost escaped the quarter with a clean sheet, but Adam West connected with Perera for his third of the year with just 20 seconds left to play.
The Fury scored first in the second quarter on Stinson’s first of two goals on the night. It took Mike Ramos less than a minute to bring the Stars even at 2-2 with 7:21 remaining in the half. Franck Tayou registered his second of the game to close out scoring in the half and give the Fury a 3-2 lead after the first 30 minutes.
If the first half was low scoring, the final two quarters was anything but that. Ontario killed two consecutive Tacoma power plays and then benefitted from three consecutive Franck Tayou goals, two assisted by Uzi Tayou to lift the Fury up 6-2 with 3:21 to play in the third. Within one minute of Tayou’s third straight goal, the Stars picked up a pair of goals of their own, by Perera and Alex Caceres to cut the Fury lead to 6-4 with 2:29 on the clock.
Juan Carlos Gonzalez scored for Ontario with 37 seconds remaining in the third to become the Fury all-time leading goal scorer with 66 career goals in a Fury kit. That would not be the final tally of the quarter however, as Jamael Cox notched his first of the season for the Stars to make it 7-5 Ontario heading into the final quarter.
Stinson’s second of the match followed by an Israel Sesay goal gave Ontario some breathing room at 9-5 with 8:53 to go in the game. Perera completed his hat-trick with 9:44 showing to bring the Stars back within three at 9-6. Edson Cardona for Ontario and Ramos for the Stars found the net less than a minute apart to close out scoring and give Ontario the 10-7 decision.
With the win, Ontario ties the season series with the Stars at one game each. The teams next meet on January 18 at the accesso ShoWare Center.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st – ONT F. Tayou (Stinson) 5:03; TAC Perera (West) 14:39. Penalties – none.
2nd – ONT Stinson (Jones) 6:45; TAC Ramos (Antoniuk) 7:21; ONT F. Tayou (Cardona) 10:14. Penalties – ONT U. Tayou blue card (tripping) 13:35.
3rd – ONT F. Tayou (Hernandez) 8:46; ONT F. Tayou (U. Tayou) 10:16; ONT F. Tayou (U. Tayou) 11:39; TAC Caceres (Perera); TAC Perera (Caceres) 12:31; ONT Gonzalez (Sesay) 14:23; TAC J. Cox (Canale) 14:56. Penalties – ONT Topete blue card (tripping) 3:25.
4th – ONT Stinson (F.Tayou) 0:50; ONT Sesay (Jones) 6:07; TAC Perera (Caceres) 9:44; ONT Cardona (Jones) 10:26; TAC Ramos (Perera) 11:13. Penalties – ONT Hollimon blue card (tripping) 14:46.
Attendance – 1,939
The Stars continue their swing through California on Sunday when they battle the San Diego Sockers for the second time this season. Kick off is scheduled for 5:05 pm at Pachanga Arena San Diego. You can catch all the action on MASL.tv.
The Stars are on the road for the next five games before returning to the accesso ShoWare Center on Friday January 10, 2020 when they welcome Western Conference foe Turlock Cal Express to kick off the new year. Game time is 7:35 pm and you can get your tickets at tacomastars.showare.com today!
2019-20 Stars season tickets are available now! Call 1-844-STARS-84 or email info@tacomastars.com to find your favorite seat and make it yours for exciting Tacoma Stars soccer.
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