Tropics, Wave ready for first East Division showdown

LAKELAND, FL -- The Florida Tropics and Milwaukee Wave are set for back-to-back showdowns in the Eastern Division, starting this Sunday in Lakeland when the two teams tangle at the RP Funding Center. The game starts at 3:05 p.m. and will be broadcast live on MASL TV on Twitch. 

The two teams will turn around and meet again Friday night in Milwaukee. 

Florida sits atop the Eastern Division with a 5-2-1 record, good for 19 points. 

Milwaukee, who lost their first regulation time game of the season Friday night to Monterrey 6-5, is 4-1- 1 with 13 points, good for second place in the division. Teams get three points for a regulation time win, two for an overtime win, one point for an overtime loss, and no points for a regulation time loss. Milwaukee has played three fewer games than Florida to date. 

Florida comes in with several players among the offensive league leaders, while Milwaukee counters with superstar Ian Bennett, the two-team reigning league Most Valuable Player who played on loan with the Tropics in the 2020-21 season when Milwaukee chose to not play during the COVID pandemic. Bennett enters Sunday's game with a league-record streak of scoring at least one goal in 36 consecutive games. 

Florida’s Victor Parreiras and Zach Reget are tied for second overall in points in the MASL with 17. Reget is tied for second in goals with 13 and defender Drew Ruggles is fifth in goals with 10. Vini Dantas is tied for fifth overall in the league with eight assists. 

Tickets for all home games are available starting at just $7 per game by calling the arena box office at 863-834-8111. Although tickets are also available online at www.rpfundingcenter.com, service fees are significantly higher through Ticketmaster as opposed to calling the box office directly. Tickets are also available on game day at the box office.