Pair of matches in San Diego, Baja await Stars | MASL

Team enters the weekend riding a three-match winning streak

December 1, 2016 12:10 pm
The Stars’ Derek Johnson brings the ball upfield with the Shockers’ Luan Oliveira in pursuit during a match last year in Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Wilson Tsoi, Tacoma Stars

The Tacoma Stars wrap up an extended stretch of road matches as they travel to take on the San Diego Sockers (4-2) on Friday and Atletico Baja (2-2) on Sunday.

The Stars enter the weekend doubleheader having won each of their last three matches, and at 4-1 (.800) are tied for the second-best winning percentage in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Following standout performances against the Dallas Sidekicks and St. Louis Ambush two weeks ago, Stars goalkeeper Danny Waltman and defender Cory Keitz earned MASL Team of the Week honors for week four, making them Tacoma’s first weekly award winners of the season.

Friday will mark the first meeting of the season between the Stars and Sockers. The clubs squared off three times last year, with San Diego taking the series 2-1 on a combined score of 20-14. Sunday’s match will be the Stars first against Baja since joining the MASL.

The Sockers are anchored by forward Kraig Chiles, who leads the club and ranks tied for second in the MASL with 11 goals through six matches. San Diego goalkeeper Chris Toth, who has played in four of the club’s six games, leads the circuit with a .785 save percentage.

Waiting on the back end of the doubleheader is Baja midfielder Christian Gutierrez, who ranks among the league’s top 10 players in points, goals, and points per game – he has accumulated 13 points on nine goals and four assists through Atletico’s four matches.

Tacoma leads the MASL Pacific Division by a half-game over San Diego, a gap that would be widened with a victory on Friday. In three matches against the Sockers last year, Stars midfielder Derek Johnson and forward Micheal Ramos combined to score six points on three goals and three assists.

Live stats for both matches can be found at maslsoccer.com, while live online streams will be available through MASLtv. First kick on Friday is scheduled for 7:35 p.m., while Sunday’s match gets underway at 5:05 p.m.

Season ticket packages, group outings, family packs, and suite offerings for the Stars 2016-17 season are available. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online at tacomastars.com.