For the Reporter
For the second week in a row, midfielder Michael Ramos sealed victory for the Tacoma Stars. His last-minute goal on Friday night at the ShoWare Center lifted the Stars to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Ontario Fury and vaulted Tacoma into the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs.
Tacoma (13-7) raced out to an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter with goals from forwards Joey Gjertsen and Mark Lee, separated by only 10 seconds – both goals were unassisted.
The Fury (12-8) managed a pair of goals in the second quarter while holding the Stars off the board to knot up the match at 2-2 heading into halftime. Juan Topete notched Ontario’s first goal of the night seven and a half minutes into the quarter, and Tiguinho Dias followed with an equalizer just over a minute later.
Topete and Mauricio Salles swatted in a pair of goals for the Fury in the third quarter, giving Ontario a 4-3 advantage heading into the final quarter with the playoffs on the line.
With just over three minutes remaining in the match, Tacoma forward Derek Johnson took a pass from forward Vince McCluskey and snuck in the equalizing goal. Two minutes later, after a handful of failed chances and with just 40 seconds remaining in the match, Ramos rocketed the game-winner behind Fury goalkeeper Sanaldo Freitas to push Tacoma to victory.
Gjertsen finished the match with a brace for Tacoma, while goalkeeper Danny Waltman contributed 10 saves on 14 shots.
Tacoma will face the San Diego Sockers (12-7) in the first round of the MASL playoffs, with a home match at 7:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 at the ShoWare Center.
The second half of the opening round is in San Diego at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, March 6.
Tickets for the Stars home playoff match are available to purchase now. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online at www.tacomastars.com.
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