Tacoma Welcomes Cedar Rapids To ShoWare Center

by Brett Gleason

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma Stars (8-5) kick off a three-game homestand with a match against the Cedar Rapids Rampage (3-10) this Friday, Jan. 22 at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.

The Rampage began the season with seven consecutive losses before breaking through for their first victory in mid-December against St. Louis. Since starting the year 0-7, Cedar Rapids has gone 3-3, including wins in each of their last two matches.

Cedar Rapids is led by forwards Hewerton Moreira and Elmo Neto, who have scored 25 and 22 points, respectively - Neto leads the club with 11 goals. Goalkeeper Joe Kapinos has spent over 700 minutes in net for the Rampage, notching 241 saves on 333 shots while allowing an average of 7.81 goals per game.

Tacoma’s victory over Dallas in week 13 vaulted the Stars to second place in the Pacific Division, solidly in the middle of the Major Arena Soccer League playoff race.

The Stars are led by forward Derek Johnson, who has compiled a team-best 14 points on seven goals and seven assists. Following close behind Johnson are forward Dan Antoniuk and defender Adam West, who both have 12 points apiece. Tacoma goalkeeper Danny Waltman has allowed an average of 5.02 goals per game, tied for the fifth best mark in the league.

West was recently named to the MASL Team of the Week for week 13 after posting a brace and scoring the game-winning goal against Dallas - it was West’s second time being named to the Team of the Week this year.

The Friday night match is scheduled to kick off at 7:35 p.m. PT. Live stats can be found at www.maslsoccer.com, while a live webcast can be found at www.golivesportscast.com.

Season ticket packages, group outings, and suite offerings for the Tacoma Stars 2015 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 leading up to the start of the 2015 season can be found by following the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or liking the team on Facebook.