TROPICS KEEP ROLLING, BEAT AMBUSH 13-8

LAKELAND, Fla. – Three different Florida players had five-point games as the Tropics rolled past the St. Louis Ambush 13-8 in a Major Arena Soccer League game Sunday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. 

The Tropics raced to a 2-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game, and built that to 6-2 at halftime after the Ambush had tied it at 2-2. St. Louis got as close as 7-4 in the third, but the Tropics pulled away from there thanks to the work of Victor Parreiras (two goals, three assists), Ricardo Carvalho (three goals and two assists) and Zach Reget (two goals and three assists). 

The Tropics, who built their second half lead to as large as 13-6, also got scores from Chad Vandegriffe, Brenno Oliveria, Rafa Alves and Joshio Sandoval. Florida improved to 10-1 on the season, finishing an historic nine-game home stand with eight straight wins. 

J.T. Thomas had his own five point game with three goals and two assists as the Ambush fell to 5-7. Robert Kristo had two goals and William Eskay had a goal and an assist. Duduca, Mo Ndiaye and Tony Walls also had St. Louis goals. 

The Tropics will now 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. In all, they will play their next five on the road starting in Dallas. 

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.