TROPICS GO FOR EIGHTH STRAIGHT WIN SUNDAY, HOST AMBUSH

by Brian Ackley/Tropics

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Tropics will close an unprecedented nine-game homestand Sunday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland when they host the St. Louis Ambush in a 3 p.m. kickoff.

The Tropics, after losing the first game of those nine games to the Ontario Fury, have reeled off seven consecutive wins, two short of tying a team record. The game will be broadcast live on the Major Arena Soccer League’s YouTube channel.

Florida is 9-1 overall, having most recently swept the Dallas Sidekicks in a doubleheader last weekend by scores of 15-4 (Jan. 21) and 10-6 (Jan. 23.) Meanwhile, the Ambush saw their two game win-streak snapped in Harrisburg Friday night when the Heat scored in the final minute to secure a 7-6 win.

This will be the 18th meeting all time between the two rivals, by far the most games played against one opponent in Florida’s six-year history. Florida is 10-7 in the prior 17 matchups.

The Tropics are led by midfielder Victor Parreiras and goalkeeper Hugo Silva. Parreiras is third overall in points in the MASL with 24 (13 goals, 11 assists), while Silva leads in goals against average (3.45) and saves percentage (.801).

The Ambush has a budding star in Mohamed Ndiaye with seven goals and 15 assists in 10 games.

After Sunday, the Tropics will play nine of their final 12 games on the road, not returning to the RP Funding Center until a March 13 visit by the Tacoma Stars. They will only play three games total in February, and 10 games over the final five weeks of the season.

Their next start will be Saturday, Feb. 12 when they travel to Dallas to take on the Sidekicks, before a weekend road doubleheader on Feb. 26 and 27 with stops against Baltimore and Harrisburg respectively.

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.