Stars Trample Ambush For 9-5 Win

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma Stars (10-7) matched a season-high mark on offense with nine goals to take down the St. Louis Ambush (1-18) by a final score of 9-5 on Sunday evening at the ShoWare Center.

Midfielder Joseph Cairel and defender Evan McNeley both recorded braces for Tacoma, while six total Stars players logged multiple points. Forwards Alex Megson and Dan Antoniuk led the charge with three points apiece. Goalkeeper Danny Waltman contributed 12 saves on 17 shots over 60:00 minutes in goal.

The Stars offense needed no warming up as they logged four goals in the opening quarter. Cairel got Tacoma on the board first with a goal six minutes into the match assisted by midfielder Derek Johnson. Just a minute and a half later, St. Louis’ Richard Schmermund found the equalizer, tying the match at 1-1. Tacoma responded with a trio of unanswered goals over the final four minutes of the period by midfielder Micheal Ramos, midfielder Raphael Cox, and defender Chase Hanson to take a 4-1 lead.

The Ambush secured a power play early in the second quarter and capitalized with a goal from Victor France to cut the Stars lead to 4-2. Cairel’s second goal of the night flew by Ambush goalkeeper Casey Clark just over one minute later, pushing Tacoma’s lead back out to three goals at 5-2. A second goal from France and a pair of Stars power play goals by Dan Antoniuk and Evan McNeley sent Tacoma into the break with a commanding 7-3 edge.

The Ambush came out firing to open the second half, scoring a pair of goals within the first two minutes of the third period to cut the Stars lead to 7-5. However, Tacoma rallied to extend their advantage back out to four goals on a power play score by Megson and McNeley’s second goal of the evening.

Both defenses held tight in the fourth and final quarter, pitching a shutout on both ends of the field to give the Stars a 9-5 victory, their 10th triumph of the season. The win snapped the Stars four-game losing streak and put them two full games ahead of the Ontario Fury for the Pacific Division’s second playoff spot with just three games remaining in the regular season.

The Stars head out for their final road match of the regular season as they take on the Ontario Fury on Thursday, Feb. 16 with a first kick scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.

 Single game tickets, season ticket packages, group outings, family packs, and suite offerings for the Tacoma Stars 2016-17 season are available now. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online at www.tacomastars.com. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Stars can be found by following the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or liking the team on Facebook.