Stars put perfect home record on the line against Rampage

MASL match kicks off at 7:35 p.m. Friday

January 12, 2017 4:45 pm
The Stars are comfortable at home, sporting a 5-0 mark so far this indoor season. COURTESY PHOTO, Kayla Kliphardt/Tacoma Stars

The Tacoma Stars host the Cedar Rapids Rampage in an inter-conference matchup at the ShoWare Center on Friday.

The Stars enter the Major Arena Soccer League match at 7-3. The Rampage sport an 8-3 record. Kickoff is 7:35 p.m.

The matchup will be just the second ever meeting between the clubs, following the Stars’ 7-5 victory over the Rampage at home in January of last season. Forward Dan Antoniuk led Tacoma’s offense in that match, scoring three points on two goals and one assist, while midfielder Micheal Ramos contributed two goals of his own.

Tacoma opened the new year last week with a 6-4 victory over Atletico Baja that kept the Stars perfect home record intact at 5-0. The Stars have won each of their last three matches, including a pair of one-goal victories over divisional opponents in the Ontario Fury and San Diego Sockers.

Antoniuk has led the Stars offense all season, putting together a team-best 17 points coming off nine goals and eight assists. Midfielder Derek Johnson has compiled a team-leading 10 goals to go along with his four assists. Along the back line, defender Cory Keitz paces the club and ranks third in the league with 19 goals, while goalkeeper Danny Waltman has posted 122 saves and a .682 save percentage over 609:00 minutes in goal.

Cedar Rapids, the leaders of the Central Division, enter the ShoWare Center boasting a plus-18 goal differential and a penalty kill rate of 78 percent. Midfielder and team captain Gordy Gurson leads the Rampage offense with 23 points, including four power play goals. Goalkeeper Brett Petricek leads the MASL with eight wins, and ranks second on the circuit with a .743 save percentage.

A win for Tacoma would help them keep pace with the Sockers atop the Pacific Division and keep them in line for a potential spot in the MASL postseason for the second consecutive season.

Live stats for the match can be found at maslsoccer.com, while a live online stream will be available through MASLtv.

Season ticket packages, group outings, family packs and suite offerings for the Stars are available. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online.