STARS ROLL TO 13-1 WIN OVER THE OUTLAWS

by Pete Richmire

TACOMA, WA. - The Tacoma Stars (9-9-1) rolled to the most convincing win of the season in a 13-1 rout of the visiting Mesquite Outlaws (11-6-2). With the win, the Stars clinched the season-series win over Mesquite with one game left to go, Sunday, March 19 at the accesso ShoWare Center.

A pair of Jamael Cox goals built a 2-0 lead for Tacoma after one quarter of play. Cox went on to record a hat trick with four total points on the night.

Nick Perera, who finished the game with a pair of goals and three assists, and Tyler John tacked on goals to put Tacoma in front of the Outlaws 4-0 with 7:19 remaining in the first half.

Pablo Da Silva connected with Sebastian Mendez on what turned out to be the only goal of the night for the Outlaws and with 4:55 to play in the half the Stars lead was 4-1.

The final goal of the half was Perera's second of the game and came on the power play with 33 seconds to go until the break. Tacoma took a 5-1 lead into the locker room.

Halftime was a nod to the Tacoma Stars alumni from the 80's, 90's, and 2000's. Several players from the 1987 MISL Finals team were in attendance including Preki, Joe Waters, trainer Bruce Snell, and head coach Alan Hinton. Gerry Gray, Dick and Duncan McCormick, and so many more alumni took to the field during the celebration.

Once the ceremony was complete, the current Stars went back to work tallying four goals in both the third and fourth quarters to outscore the Outlaws by an 8-0 margin in the second half. In all, 10 different Tacoma players recorded a point with four posting multi-goal games.

Stars keeper Danny Waltman stopped seven of eight shots he faced on his way to the win.

Tacoma and Mesquite will face off again on Sunday, March 19 at 5:05 pm. Tickets are available at www.tacomastars.com/tickets.