The Tacoma Stars open their fifth season in the MASL with a Saturday night, Nov. 30 matchup against longtime rival San Diego Sockers.<\/p>\n
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the accesso ShoWare Center for the Stars’ Magnetic Schedule Night.<\/p>\n
The West Coast rivalry is the first of 12 home matches for the Stars.<\/p>\n
The Kent-based Stars return several key players from last year’s playoff squad that finished second in the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n
Reigning league MVP Nick Perera, who led the MASL with 80 points on 39 goals and 41 assists, paces the Tacoma offense.<\/p>\n
Former Sounder Lamar Neagle returns for his first full season in Tacoma, after appearing in six games and accumulating five points on a goal and four assists.<\/p>\n
Another former Sounder roaming the midfield for Tacoma, Philip Lund, returns to the Stars, having played in 41 regular-season matches and collecting 32 goals and 10 assists on 103 shots on goal in his first two seasons in the orange and blue.<\/p>\n
Backstopping the Tacoma defense is veteran goalkeeper and Gig Harbor native Danny Waltman, who appeared in 15 matches for the Stars last season, finishing with sevens wins and a 5.68-goals-against average.<\/p>\n