STARS SNAP SKID WITH 6-4 WIN OVER MONTERREY

TACOMA, WA. - The Tacoma Stars (5-5-0) snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday with a much-needed 6-4 win over the visiting Monterrey Flash (7-3-2) at the accesso ShoWare Center. The Stars trail the Flash by five points for the fifth and final Western Conference playoff spot at their mid-point of the 2022-23 regular season. Tacoma has two games in hand though their upcoming schedule is not easy with a visit from the San Diego Sockers and two from the Chihuahua Savage.

The Stars were without the services of their leading scorer as Nick Perera was unavailable due to being out of the country. With that disadvantage, Tacoma dug a deeper hole by going down 2-0 to the Flash on goals by Edgar Flores and Daniel Villela. Villela has feasted on the Stars defense this season and finished the night with two goals to go with the hat trick he scored in Kent on December 10.

With the Flash up 2-0 with 14:44 left in the half, Tacoma's offense came to life and they were able to tie the game at 2-2 at the half.

The first goal for Tacoma came on a 5-on-4 advantage with a Monterrey player down behind the play. Jamael Cox fired a pass from the top of the arc to Nani Mendoza in the left corner. Mendoza uncorked a missile into the opposite upper 90 past Monterrey keeper Diego Reynoso to cut the Flash lead to 2-1 with 3:32 to go in the half.

The equalizer was near-midfield strike from Alex Caceres who picked up a loose ball with Reynoso tied up out of the box with Eddie Na. Caceres one-timed the shot high into the empty net to make it 2-2 at the break.

After Mariano Alvaro gave the Flash a 3-2 lead, it was Tyler John's first of two goals bringing the game level again. After an initial save by Reynoso on a shot from Mike Ramos, John pounced on the rebound in the left corner and unleashed a low shot to the back of the net.

A total of five goals were scored in the 3rd quarter and the next gave the Flash yet another lead. Villela scored on the power play on an assist from Erick Tovar to put the score at 4-3 with 7:45 to play in the frame. 

Less than two minutes later, with Tacoma on the power play and a restart at the top of the arc, Caceres sent a pass to Chiva Ramirez with Cox rushing the box. As the Flash defense closed in on Cox, Ramirez rolled a slow shot past Reynoso who didn't see the ball until it crossed the goal line to make it a 4-4 game with 5:51 left in the 3rd.

It took the Stars just 13 seconds after that goal to take their first lead of the game. DeBray Hollimon scooped the ball near the wall at midfield and sent a forward pass to John. Reynoso was out of the box and John went to the right past the Monterrey keeper and found an open net for his second goal of the game with 5:58 to go in the 3rd. 

The final goal of the game came off the foot of Hollimon. He took a pass from Mendoza and from the left side and nutmegged Reynoso to make it 6-4 with 5:54 to play. Tacoma was able to fend off the Monterrey 6th attacker offense to pick up the win.

Up next for Tacoma will be a visit from the San Diego Sockers making their only visit to the accesso ShoWare Center this season on Saturday, February 11 at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at www.tacomastars.com/tickets.