The Tacoma Stars defeated the Turlock Express 10-6 in a Major Arena Soccer League game Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center to complete a weekend sweep of their Pacific Division opponent.
The decision was in doubt until the Kent-based Stars (10-9) tallied five goals in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Mike Ramos had a hat trick in the win to go with his five-goal effort in Turlock on Friday.
Tacoma took a two-goal lead after one quarter on goals from Joseph Cairel and Troy Peterson and looked to be cruising. Turlock (2-17) leveled the match on markers by Omar Tapia and Adrian Gutierrez before Adam West gave Tacoma a 3-2 lead at the half on a power-play rocket.
Turlock outscored the Stars 3-2 in the third to set up a close fourth quarter. Ramos nailed home two of his three goals in the third, and for Turlock, it was Tapia Arturo Lima and Douglas Lima who tallied points.
To open scoring in the fourth, Joey Gjertsen picked up credit for a power-play goal after a Turlock defender redirected a shot into his own goal. Derek Johnson gave the Stars a two-goal lead with 8:36 left before Martyn Arista drew the Express within one less than a minute later.
Back-to-back goals from Nick Perera, including one on a shootout, gave the Stars some breathing room.
Ramos completed his hat trick with 2:40 to go in the game.
The Stars host the Ontario (Calif.) Fury on Friday, March 15. Kickoff is 7:35 p.m. Former Seahawks star Marcus Trufant will be on hand for the ceremonial first kick.
The Stars’ final regular-season home game is Sunday, March 31 against Landon Donovan and the Pacific Division-leading San Diego Sockers.
For tickets, call 844-782-7784 or visit tacomastars.com.
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SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter – TAC Cairel (Perera) 1:08; TAC Peterson (Johnson) 13:36; Penalties – none.
Second quarter – TUR Tapia (Carmona) 2:02; TUR Gutierrez 5:37; TAC West 13:03 PP; Penalties – TAC West blue card (unsportsmanlike conduct) 5:34.
Third quarter – TAC Ramos 6:08; TUR Tapia 4:58 PP; TAC Ramos 6:08; TUR Art Pulido 6:29; TUR Lima (Rios) 6:46; Penalties – TUR Adrian Pulido blue card (handling) 5:34; TAC Carmona blue card (tripping) 9:49.
Fourth quarter –TAC Gjertsen 5:34 PP; TAC Johnson (Ramos) 6:24; TUR Arista (Lima) 7:02 TAC Perera 9:28; TAC Perera 10:24 shootout; TAC Ramos 12:20; Penalties – none.
Shots – Tacoma 7-8-8-8 (31), Turlock 2-5-7-4 (18)
Attendance – 2,427
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