STARS DROP OPENER TO SOCKERS 10-7
KENT, WA. – The Stars (0-1) overcame a 3-0 deficit after one quarter to take a third quarter lead before ultimately dropping their home opener by a 10-7 final to the San Diego Sockers in front of 2,198 fans at the accesso ShoWare Center Saturday night.
San Diego dominated the first 15 minutes of play getting on the board with 5:09 left in the opening frame with Jamie Lovegrove’s first goal as a San Diego Socker. A little over a minute later Charlie Gonzalez picked up the first of his two assists on the night when he connected with Tavoy Morgan to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. It was less than a minute after that when Leonardo de Oliveira made it a 3-0 San Diego advantage, courtesy of an assist by Gerardo Jurado.
Following San Diego’s three-goal run, Tacoma went on a stretch of their own, stringing together four unanswered goals. Jamael Cox scored back-to-back markers, the first unassisted and the second with a helper by Vini Dantas to cut the San Diego lead to 3-2 with 8:25 left in the first half. The teams traded good looks at goal but neither scored again before time expired in the second quarter.
Alessandro Canale converted on a DeBray Hollimon assist to tie the game 3-3 with 12:31 to go in the third quarter. With San Diego on the power play following a blue card to Mike Ramos, Nick Perera beat the Sockers defense for a short-handed goal to give Tacoma the lead 4-3.
The lead would last just a little over four minutes before Charlie Gonzalez used a Brandon Escoto assist to tie the game 4-4 with 5:02 remaining in the third. Next, it was Escoto’s chance to get the first of his two goals on the night, this one putting the Sockers in front to stay with 3:25 on the clock.
Three different Sockers scored two goals in the win, but San Diego’s sixth goal was the only Gonzalez to Gonzalez connection when Juan Gonzalez found Felipe Gonzalez for the score. The third frame came to an end with San Diego in front of the Stars by a 6-4 advantage.
In a fourth quarter which saw the teams combine for seven goals, Tacoma cut the deficit to just one on Cox’s third goal of the game just 31 seconds into the quarter.
Escoto’s second of the game followed by a Juan Manuel Rojo goal a minute later stretched the Sockers’ lead to three, at 8-5 with 12:49 left in the game.
From that point, the teams traded goals with Dantas and Ramos scoring for the Stars and De Oliveira and Charlie Gonzalez finding the net for San Diego. With the win, San Diego runs their all-time regular-season record against the Stars to 20-4. The teams will next meet on January 28 when the Stars travel to Pechanga Arena San Diego for the second of six meetings this season.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st – SD Lovegrove 9:51; SD Morgan (Charlie Gonzalez) 10:57; SD De Oliveira (Jurado) 11:23. Penalties – None.
2nd – TAC Cox 4:20; TAC Cox (Dantas) 6:35. Penalties – TAC blue card (too many men) 9:45.
3rd – TAC Canale (Hollimon) 2:29; TAC Perera 5:29 SH; SD Charlie Gonzalez (Escoto) 9:58; SD Escoto (Charlie Gonzalez) 11:35; SD Felipe Gonzalez (Juan Gonzalez) 13:03. Penalties – TAC Ramos blue card (reckless tackle) 4:51.
4th – TAC Cox (Dantas) 0:31; SD Escoto 1:07; SD Rojo (Cardenas) 2:11; TAC Dantas 2:23; SD Charlie Gonzalez (Escoto) 4:00; TAC Ramos (Perera) 14:12; SD De Oliveira 14:38 EN. Penalties – None.
Power Play – Tacoma- 0/0 San Diego- 0/2
Shots – Tacoma- 17 San Diego- 23
Attendance – 2,198
The Stars are back in action at the accesso ShoWare Center next Saturday for their annual Teddy Bear Toss. Bring a new stuffed animal to the game and when the Stars score their first goal, let them fly onto the field! Donated animals will go to benefit Toys for Tots. Game time is 7:05 pm against the Dallas Sidekicks and you can get your tickets at tacomastars.showare.com today.
2021-2022 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Call 1-844-STARS-84 or email info@tacomastars.com to get set up with your tickets or get more information.
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