For the Reporter
The Tacoma Stars travel to the Midwest to take on the Kansas City Comets and Milwaukee Wave on Friday and Saturday in Major Arena Soccer League play.
It’s a homecoming for five Stars players, taking on their former team in Kansas City and an opportunity to avenge an opening-day, overtime loss to the Wave.
Five Tacoma Stars (2-3, third Pacific Division) players return to the scene of their 2014 MISL championship when they travel to Kansas City. Danny Waltman, Robert Palmer, Ramone Palmer, Alain Matingou and Alex Megson were members of the then Missouri Comets during their championship run. Waltman was an original Comet, beginning in 2010 before returning home to the Tacoma Stars. The Palmers and Matingou played for the Comets since 2012 scoring a combined 113 goals.
This season, Waltman has made all five starts for the Stars and has made 47 straight starts since coming home to Tacoma. He sports a 4.91 goals-against average, good enough for fifth in the MASL. Joey Gjertsen leads the way offensively with seven points (4 goals, 3 assists) and Philip Lund leads the team with five goals.
The Comets, who enter the game at 1-3 this season, are led by Leo Gibson’s four goals and seven assists. Goalkeeper Steven Hamersky made his MASL debut last Saturday and made 17 saves in an 8-7 overtime loss to Cedar Rapids.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee is 5-0 this season, including its 6-5 overtime win over the Stars on Oct. 27. Megson tied the game for the Stars on a bicycle kick with four seconds left before Max Ferdinand scored the game winner in overtime. Ian Bennett leads the high-powered Wave with a league-leading 17 points, including a league leading 14 goals. Goalkeeper Josh Lemos has a league-high five wins.
Both games will be streamed live online at MASL.tv and live stats can be found on maslsoccer.com. First kick in at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena on Friday is set for 5:35 p.m. PST. Saturday’s game in Milwaukee at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena begins at 4:05 PST.
The Stars return home for a pair of games against Soles De Sonora on Saturday, Dec. 16 and Sunday, Dec. 17. Saturday’s game is Star Wars Night and fans can pick up an exclusive, limited edition Tacoma Stars Grit City Jedi T-shirt by purchasing an End Zone Party Deck ticket for $42. The Party Deck includes a buffet with beer, soda and water.
First kick is 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 5:05 p.m. Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at tacomastars.com.
Stay up to date with the Stars by following them on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or liking the team on Facebook (FB.com/TacomaStars).
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