The Tacoma Stars dropped their opening road match of the year, 7-5 to the Turlock Express in Major Arena Soccer League play Friday night at the Turlock Soccer Center.
The outcomes leaves the teams 1-1 on the young season.
Midfielder Jamael Cox led the way for the Stars on offense with a pair of goals, while forwards Dan Antoniuk and Alex Megson both notched their first goals of the season. Stars goalkeeper Danny Waltman spent all but one minute of the match in goal, recording 11 saves on 18 shots.
The opening half of the match featured seven combined goals, four lead changes, and three ties. Turlock struck first, with Arturo Pulido sending in a score to give the Express a 1-0 lead. Just over three minutes later, the Stars found an equalizer off the foot of Cox, knotting the score at 1-1. Two more goals in the closing minute of the opening frame sent the two club’s into the second quarter tied at 2-2.
Turlock opened the scoring in the second quarter as well, taking a 3-2 lead when Martyn Arista snuck a goal past Waltman. A pair of unanswered Stars goals by Megson, his first of the year, and midfielder Joseph Cairel gave Tacoma a 4-3 lead at halftime.
A trio of goals in the third quarter from Turlock, including the second goal of the night for Arista, put the Express out in front by a score of 6-4. The Stars worked in one final goal in the fourth quarter, Cox’s second of the match, before surrendering an answer from Turlock that created the final margin of 7-5.
The Stars return home for a match against the Ontario Fury on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 6:05 p.m. at the ShoWare Center.
Single-game tickets, season ticket packages, group outings, family packs, and suite offerings for the Tacoma Stars 2016-17 season are available now. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online.
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