Stars come up short in San Diego; Donovan makes MASL debut

  • Saturday, February 16, 2019 10:51am
  • Sports

A crowd of 8,492 fans packed Pachanga Arena in San Diego on Friday night, anticipating Landon Donovan’s first goal in a Sockers uniform.

Donovan, a former Major League Soccer and U.S. national team star who joined the Sockers this season, assisted on Brandon Escoto’s goal in the second quarter en route to San Diego’s 6-4 Major Arena Soccer League victory over the Kent-based Stars.

The Pacific Division-leading Sockers improved to 13-1. The Stars dropped to 6-7.

Brian Farber opened the scoring for the Sockers in the first quarter on one of Taylor Walter Bond’s two assists on the night with 7:18 remaining in the first quarter.

Philip Lund’s 12th goal of the season for the Stars – on an assist from Derek Johnson – evened the match for the final time with 3:40 left in the quarter.

The second quarter belonged to San Diego. Four unanswered goals from Cesar Cerda, Juan Gonzalez, Guerrero Pino and Escoto gave the Sockers a 5-1 lead at the break. Escoto’s goal came 13 seconds into a power play when the Stars leading scorer, Nick Perera, picked up a blue card after receiving his fourth foul of the half.

The Stars sped up the pace to open the second half, and Lund found Perera for his 16th goal of the season with 5:54 left in the third. Travis Pittman knocked in San Diego’s only goal of the half to give the Sockers a 6-2 lead with 2:22 on the clock. Alex Megson assisted on Perera’s second goal of the night, and the Stars trailed 6-3 with one quarter left to play.

The Stars’ Troy Peterson sailed home an unassisted goal, his second of the year, with 12:17 left in the fourth, but that would be all the scoring in the game. Tacoma pulled goalkeeper Sanaldo with just over three minutes left, but the Sockers were able to hold the lead for the win.

The Stars host the Sockers on Sunday at the accesso ShoWare Center. Kickoff is 5:05 p.m. For tickets, call 1-844-782-7784 or go to tacomastars.com.

Notes: Sunday is BECU. Military Night vs. the Sockers. The Stars will wear special kits that will be auctioned off during the match. … The Stars have two bobblehead nights on the calendar presented by Sound Credit Union – Friday, March 1 is Preki Bobblehead Night and Sunday, March 10 is Danny Waltman Bobblehead. Purchase a six-game pack or buy a group of 10 or more tickets and one or both collectibles can be yours.

Scoring Summary

1st quarter – SD Farber (Bond) 7:42; TAC Lund (Johnson) 11:20; Penalties – none.

2nd quarter – SD Cerda (Pino) 3:39; SD Gonzalez (Bond) 6:35; SD Pino (Pardo) 9:36; SD Escoto (Donovan) 12:36 PP; Penalties – TAC Perera blue card (4 fouls in a half) 12:23.

3rd quarter – TAC Perera (Lund) 9:06; SD Pittman (Contreras) 12:38; TAC Perera (Megson) 13:06; Penalties – none.

4th quarter – TAC Peterson (unassisted) 2:43; Penalties – TAC Da Silva blue card (tripping) 6:38; SD Pardo yellow card (dissent) served by Farber 6:38

Attendance – 8,492


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Sports

Courtesy Photo
Kentlake Male Athlete of the Week: Makoa Planesi

Planesi is off to a great first week of practice and was student of the quarter at Kentlake

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Female Athlete of the Week: Ella Wick

Wick is a leader on and off the court and epitimizes what it means to be a Falcon

Lauren Covello gets ready to lunge for a challenge. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer state run halted by Mount Si

For just the first time all season, the Chargers allowed four goals in the 4-1 loss.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Landon Phan

Phan placed sixth in the district tournament, qualifying for state in the spring

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Rachel Senger

Sengar combined for 42 assists and 12 aces in a win vs TJ.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Addison Edwards

Edwards has been the Chargers top scorer this season.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Sage Vincioni

Vincioni placed fifth overall in the league tournament in his first competitive season.

Courtesy Photo
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Claire Eaton

Eaton is an all-around great student athlete, works hard in the pool and has a 4.0 GPA

Senior midfielder Jayda Sparks (left) signed to Eastern Washington University and forward/defender Ella Schug (right) committed to Cal State University at Bakersfield. (Photo provided by John Flanigan)
Two Kentridge soccer players commit to Division 1 schools

Schug and Sparks have been momumental in the girls soccer playoff run.

Around the Sound Sports podcast is hosted by Ben Ray. Email benjamin.ray@soundpublishing.com.
Fall state playoff action | Around the Sound Sports podcast

In this week’s episode, we take a look at district soccer and football around the NPSL. Kentridge girls soccer advances to the state playoffs for the first time since 2018 in a huge 6-0 win over Rogers. Decatur football’s historic season comes to a close in a 13-6 loss to Woodinville at home. Auburn falls to Lincoln at the Lincoln Bowl, ending the Trojans’ 2023 campaign. Auburn Riverside football wins against Juanita 28-9 and is going to state for the first time in school history.

Hayden Rallo controls the ball at Kentlake practice. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentlake girls soccer team breaks 13-year state playoff drought

The Falcons are on their way to state for first time since 2010 on the back of a 4-0 win

Team photo after the win against Rogers. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge girls soccer is back in the state tournament

The Chargers are in the big dance for the first time since 2018, snapping a four-year drought.