FURY STOP TROPICS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN

LAKELAND, Fla – LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tropics never really got into a good offensive groove Saturday night in dropping a 6-5 decision to the Ontario Fury, the first-home opener Florida has lost in the team’s Major Arena Soccer League six-year history.

It was a back and forth affair, with neither team ever having more than a two-goal lead, but the Tropics were chasing from the start, and had just one lead on the night at 3-2 in the second quarter after goals about 90 seconds apart from Lucio Gonzaga and VcMore Eligwe. 

But it ultimately was too much from Franck Tayou, who had three goals, and Jesus Pacheco, who found the back of the net twice, to lift Ontario to 2-0 on the season. Florida falls to 2-1. 

Jorge Deleon got the game winner a minute into the final frame to make it 6-4. Zach Reget scored his fifth of the season from the yellow line on a low laser with just under three minutes to play to cut the deficit to one, but the Tropics never could get the equalizer. 

Lucas Montelares, Lucio Gonzaga and Victor Parreiras got the other Florida goals. 

The two teams will be right back at it in the RP Funding Center in Lakeland in a 3:05 p.m. start Sunday afternoon.

Local fans can score free general admission to all of the team’s home games this winter thanks to its sponsors who are presenting the “Tropics Blitz”. 

The “Tropics Blitz” will provide free general admission tickets as a way of providing a great evening of family entertainment for parents and kids who have had their activities curtailed because of the ongoing pandemic. Vehicles with two or more persons will pay $20 to park, and then be able to take their parking receipt to the RP Funding Center box office for the same number of free tickets to that day’s game as occupants in the vehicle. Single occupant vehicles will pay just $10 for parking. 

For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.