Tacoma Stars heading to MASL playoffs
The Tacoma Stars season didn’t end tonight. They are playoff-bound thanks to the kind of ending that usually only shows up in movies. With their season hanging in the balance, the Stars came from a goal down in the final minutes and then got the game-winner around the final half minute.
Here’s a game-report from the club:
For the second week in a row, midfielder Michael Ramos sealed victory for the Tacoma Stars (13-7). His last-minute goal on Friday night at the ShoWare Center lifted the Stars to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Ontario Fury (12-8), and vaulted Tacoma into the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs.
Tacoma raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals from forwards Joey Gjertsen and Mark Lee, separated by only 10 seconds - both goals were unassisted.
The Fury managed a pair of goals in the second quarter while holding the Stars off the board to knot up the match at 2-2 heading into halftime. Juan Topete notched Ontario’s first goal of the night seven and a half minutes into the quarter, and Tiguinho Dias followed with an equalizer just over a minute later.
Topete and Mauricio Salles swatted in a pair of goals for the Fury in the third quarter, giving Ontario a 4-3 advantage heading into the final quarter with the playoffs on the line.
With just over three minutes remaining in the match, Tacoma forward Derek Johnson took a pass from forward Vince McCluskey and snuck in the equalizing goal. Two minutes later, after a handful of failed chances and with just 40 seconds remaining in the match, Ramos rocketed the game-winner behind Fury goalkeeper Sanaldo Freitas to push Tacoma to victory.
Gjertsen finished the match with a brace for Tacoma, while goalkeeper Danny Waltman contributed 10 saves on 14 shots.
Tacoma will face the San Diego Sockers (12-7) in the first round of the MASL playoffs next week. Dates for the contests will be announced following the conclusion of the Sockers match against the Dallas Sidekicks (7-11) this Sunday, Feb. 28.
Tickets for the Stars home playoff match are available to purchase 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.
This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 10:51 PM with the headline "Tacoma Stars heading to MASL playoffs."