TACOMA STARS STAY ALIVE WITH 8-6 WIN OVER ONTARIO
Kent, WA- The Tacoma Stars (10-11) kept their playoff hopes alive on Friday night by beating the Ontario Fury (10-11) with an 8-6 final at the Accesso ShoWare Center in front of 3,085 fans. The Stars were led by Jamael Cox who notched a hat trick to earn the first star of the game award.
Defenses were on display in the first quarter in which the only goal was off the foot of Star Joey Gjersten who picked up his 8th of the season with 9:16 left on the clock. The second quarter belonged to Tacoma who got back to back goals by Nick Perera to build a 3-0 with 10:03 left in the first half. Ontario put up their first marker of the match when Adrian Perez scored just over two minutes later. Jamael Cox scored his first of the match to close out scoring in the half and put the Stars up 4-1.
Juan Gonzalez cut the Tacoma lead to 4-2 with his 7th goal of the season just 39 seconds into the second half. Jamael Cox and Cory Keitz each scored for the Stars in the third quarter to put the them on top 6-2 heading into the final quarter.
Ontario notched four 4th quarter goals including two from Francisco Cordeiro and one each from Ouday Belhadj and Maicon de Abreu to make the game close. Jamael Cox netted his third of the game and the Stars other goal was pounded home by Raphael Cox to get to the 86 final.
The Stars and Fury are now tied in win-loss record with the head to head tie breaker belonging to the Stars at 3-1 for the season. A win in Tacoma’s final game will clinch the second Pacific Division playoff spot.
The Stars wrap up their regular season schedule Friday, March 2 against the Kansas City Comets on Fan Appreciation Night.
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