TROPICS BREEZE PAST TACOMA 10-4 IN STAR WARS GAME

LAKELAND, FL. – You might say the “force” was with the Florida Tropics Sunday at the RP Funding Center. 

The leaders of the Eastern Division of the Major Arena Soccer League improved to 15-1-1 on the season (46 points) with a 10-4 win over the Tacoma Stars during Florida’s annual Star Wars game. 

Wearing specially designed “Star Wars” uniforms, the Tropics broke a 2-2 tie midway through the second quarter with five straight goals to pull into a comfortable lead that was never seriously threatened the rest of the game. 

Fans will be able to bid in an online auction starting Monday for the jerseys. Proceeds from the auction will go to benefit the YMCA of West Central Florida. Details can be found on the team’s Facebook page. 

Ricardo Diegues had a successful homecoming after being acquired in a trade with Utica City on Jan. 31, getting a goal and three assists. Brenno Oliveria had two goals and an assist while Drew Ruggles and Ricardo Carvalho had two goals each. Anthony Arico and Ricardinho added goals as well. 

Vini Dantas had two goals for the Stars (5-11-2) while Nick Perera had three assists. 

The Tropics will be on the road Wednesday for a matchup against the Ontario Fury (10:05 EDT), and be back at the RP Funding Center on Sunday, April 20 when they host the Baltimore Blast (3:05 p.m.) 

The Tropics have already earned a playoff spot, and will win the regular season Eastern Division crown with their next win.

The “Tropics Blitz” allows for 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