STARS HOST SAVAGE IN BIG TEST ON SUNDAY
TACOMA, WA. – The Tacoma Stars (1-0-0) will host the reigning MASL Champion Chihuahua Savage on Sunday in their only visit to the accesso ShoWare Center this season. This game will have a special 1:05 pm kickoff with the doors opening at 12 pm.
Last season, the Savage only lost seven road games between the regular season and playoffs, three of those came at the hands of the Tacoma Stars. The Stars swept a weekend doubleheader in March and then game one of their first-round playoff series in April.
After starting out 0-4-1 against the Savage in regular-season action, Tacoma has won three out of the last four contests and posts a 3-5-1 all-time mark against the Savage, including a 3-2-1 record at the accesso ShoWare Center.
Tacoma opened the season with a hard-fought 5-4 win over the perennial power San Diego Sockers and Sunday’s game will be an opportunity for Tacoma to make a big statement early in the 2024-25 campaign.
Stars General Manager and leading scorer Nick Perera knows that Sunday’s game will be another tough challenge to start the season.
“We are looking forward to receiving the back-to-back MASL Champions at ShoWare after some epic battles at the end of last season. We know the quality they possess and how methodical they are in their approach to the game. I know our guys are excited and up for the challenge,” said Perera.
The Savage enter Sunday’s game with a 1-0-0 record after dismantling the Empire Strykers at Corner Sport Arena by a 10-3 final last week. Nine Savage players recorded at least one point in the win with three posting three points.
Carlos Hernandez (2G-1A), Roberto Escalante (2G-1A), and Hugo Puentes (1G-2A) come to Kent as Chihuahua’s leading scorers. The Savage typically share time in net between their keepers but are led by Diego Reynoso and his impressive 102-17-5 career mark.
The Stars counter Reynoso with the four-time MASL Goalkeeper of the Year in Chris Toth and his 101 career wins. Toth was tested in the home opener against San Diego and came up with 27 saves in Tacoma’s win.
Offensively, five different Stars scored a goal and were led by Perera’s three-point game. With his two assists, Perera tied Leo Gibson for the all-time MASL lead and with his next helper he will sit alone atop the leaderboard.
Kyle Rivers added a goal and an assist with Adrian Correa, Moises Gonzalez, and Stefan Mijatovic adding goals.
Mijatovic’s goal was the game-winner and gave him four game-winning goals in just eight games with Tacoma.
Gonzalez sits on the precipice of big MASL career milestones as well. His first goal as a Tacoma Star brought him within seven of 200. He is also two assists away from 100 and nine points shy of joining the 300 Point Club.
The Stars and back-to-back MASL Champion Chihuahua Savage will battle on Sunday, December 15 at 1:05 pm. Tickets are on sale now at www.tacomastars.showare.com
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