STARS COMPLETE WEEKEND SWEEP OF TURLOCK 10-6

by Pete Richmire

KENT, WA. – The Tacoma Stars (10-9) defeated the Turlock Express (2-17) by a 10-6 final Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center to complete a weekend sweep of their Pacific Division opponent. The decision was in doubt until the Stars 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 by Joseph Cairel and Troy Peterson and looked to be cruising. Turlock 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 the breathing room they were looking for. Ramos completed his hat trick with 2:40 to go in the game and give the Stars their final goal of the night.

Scoring Summary

1st Qtr - TAC Cairel (Perera) 1:08; TAC Peterson (Johnson) 13:36; Penalties - none.

2nd Qtr - TUR Tapia (Carmona) 2:02; TUR Gutierrez 5:37; TAC West 13:03 PP; Penalties - TAC West blue card (unsportsmanlike conduct) 5:34.

3rd Qtr - 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.

4th Qtr - 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