The Tacoma Stars gave up seven second-half goals in a 9-4 loss to the Pacific Division-leading San Diego Sockers in front of 2,275 fans at the accesso ShoWare Center on Friday night.
The Kent-based Stars are 5-5 on the Major Arena Soccer League season. The Sockers improved to 9-1
Tacoma opened the scoring with 8:39 left in the first quarter on Raphael Cox’s first goal of the season, assisted by Nick Perera. Kraig Chiles and Taylor Walter Bond scored just eight seconds apart for the Sockers.
The only goal of the second quarter belonged to Perera, assisted by Joey Gjertsen, to knot the game 2-2 at the half.
Less than one minute into the third quarter, Brandon Escoto scored the first of his three goals on the night for San Diego to put the Sockers up 3-2. Jamael Cox put one in for Tacoma to tie the game 3-3 before the Sockers went in front for good on a Leonardo De Oliveira goal with 1:46 left in the third.
Brian Farber netted a goal for the Sockers 27 seconds into the final frame to give San Diego a two-goal lead. Felipe Gonzalez put San Diego up 6-3 with 11:31 left to play, and Tacoma pulled goalkeeper Danny Waltman for a sixth attacker. With the man-advantage, Tacoma picked up a goal from Gjertsen, and that was as close as the Stars would get at 6-4 with 9:54 remaining.
Escoto would net two more goals to complete his hat trick, with Farber’s second of the night to close out scoring on the 9-4 final.
San Diego evens the season series 1-1 with the Stars.
The Stars are in Ontario, Calif., on Sunday to face the Fury with a 5 p.m. kickoff. Catch the action live on MASL.tv.
The Stars’ next home action comes on Sunday, Feb. 17 against the Sockers. Kickoff is 5:05 p.m.
For tickets, call 1-844-782-7784 or go to tacomastars.com.
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