{"id":8638,"date":"2016-02-27T12:16:19","date_gmt":"2016-02-27T20:16:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spiken.wpengine.com\/news\/ramos-lifts-stars-to-5-4-victory-and-into-masl-playoffs\/"},"modified":"2016-10-23T01:25:34","modified_gmt":"2016-10-23T08:25:34","slug":"ramos-lifts-stars-to-5-4-victory-and-into-masl-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kentreporter.com\/sports\/ramos-lifts-stars-to-5-4-victory-and-into-masl-playoffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Ramos lifts Stars to 5-4 victory and into MASL playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"
For the Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n For the second week in a row, midfielder Michael Ramos sealed victory for the Tacoma Stars. His last-minute goal on Friday night at the ShoWare Center lifted the Stars to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Ontario Fury and vaulted Tacoma into the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tacoma (13-7) 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 \u2013 both goals were unassisted.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The Fury (12-8) 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Gjertsen finished the match with a brace for Tacoma, while goalkeeper Danny Waltman contributed 10 saves on 14 shots.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Tacoma will face the San Diego Sockers (12-7) in the first round of the MASL playoffs, with a home match at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at the ShoWare Center.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The second half of the opening round is in San Diego at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, March 6.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n