The Tacoma Stars – poised to make a championship push in their third full year in the Major Arena Soccer League – have signed Ramone Palmer, Robert Palmer and Alain Matingou.
Per team and league policies, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
All three players were part of the Kansas City Comets’ championship team in 2014 along with current Star players Danny Waltman and Alex Megson.
The Palmers grew up in Kingston, Jamaica but are unrelated outside of playing together for the Comets for the past four years after both finished college soccer at Park University.
Matingou, another Park University alum, plied his trade with the Comets in the MASL.
Ramone Palmer, at 5 foot 6 and 140 pounds, brings lightning quick dribbling and scoring ability to the Stars after playing the past four seasons for the Comets. Ramone scored 13 goals and registered 18 assists for the division champion Comets in 2016-2017. The division title in 2015-2016 was the third in a row for the Comets with Ramone playing all 20 games, scoring 18 goals and 5 assists. The 2010 American Midwest Conference Men’s Player of the Year helped the Comets win the 2014 MASL championship.
“Ramone is a dynamic goal scorer in our league with the ability to take over a game,” said Darren Sawatzky, Stars coach and general manager. “We will look to him to light up the score column along with our quality core of returning point getters.”
Matingou, originally from Paris, France, will bring a hard, veteran defensive presence to the Stars’ backline. Matingou was part of the MISL All-Rookie team in 2014 for the Comets after scoring 21 goals and adding 12 assists. At 6-1 and 180 pounds, Matingou will be a formidable force for the Stars marking opposing strikers.
“We are very excited to add Alain to our defensive line as he compliments the players we have now and gives a great opposing defender for teams with big post up players,” Sawatzky said. “He can also score goals so we feel like we have made another good addition to our group.”
Robert Palmer, at 5-10 and 180 pounds, will bring tenacious defense and consistent passing. He scored six goals and added three assists in 19 games in the 2016-2017 season for Kansas City after another 19-game season in 2015-2016 where he registered 13 goals and seven assists. He attended Park University and was a 2010 AMC First-Team All-Conference player.
“Robert is underrated, in my opinion, but he has been playing on a very good team in Kansas City, so we are glad he chose to make the trek across the country,” Sawatzky said. “With his great defending and team oriented style, we think he will give us a great year on and off the field.”
The Stars kick off the 2017-2018 home schedule on Friday, Oct. 27 at the ShoWare Center.
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 at tacomastars.com. The most up-to-date news and notes about the Stars can be found by following the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC), Instragram (@thetacomastars), or liking the team on Facebook.
