The Tacoma Stars kept pace with the San Diego Sockers through two quarters in the first game of the Major Arena Soccer League Pacific Division playoffs but were outscored 4-1 in the second half and ultimately lost 6-3 at the accesso ShoWare Center on Friday night.
Game 2 between the Kent-based Stars (12-13) and Sockers (24-1) is 7 p.m. Saturday at Pachanga Arena in San Diego (MASL TV).
Tacoma opened scoring in the game when Philip Lund converted on a Raphael Cox assist with 12:14 left in the first quarter. Cesar Cerda knocked in the Sockers’ first goal unassisted with 4:10 remaining.
Leonardo De Oliveira scored for the Sockers with 10:40 to go in the half, but Dan Antoniuk tied the game for Tacoma, heading into the locker room.
San Diego scored the only two goals of the third quarter on markers by Hiram Ruiz and Cerda, his second of the game, to take a 4-2 lead into the final 15 minutes of play.
Adam West’s score brought the Stars to within 4-3 with 12:46 to play. San Diego regained its two-goal margin on Christian Gutierrez’s goal with 2:59 left. San Diego’s Raymundo Contreras found an empty net to reach the 6-3 final score.
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter – TAC, Lund (Cox) 2:44; SD, Cerda 10:50 SH; penalties – SD, Pino blue card (tripping) 9:47.
Second quarter – SD, De Oliveira (Contreras) 4:20; TAC, Antoniuk (Ramos) 11:44; penalties – TAC, Peterson blue card (tripping) 3:46; TAC, Peterson yellow card (delay of game) 3:46; SD, Chiles blue card (pushing) 4:05; TAC, Waltman blue card (tripping) 12:48.
Third quarter – SD, Ruiz (Bond) 10:52; SD, Cerda 13:28; Penalties – none.
Fourth quarter – TAC, West (Da Silva) 2:14; SD, Gutierrez (Escoto) 12:02; SD, Contreras (Farber) 14:45; penalties – none.
Shots – Tacoma 4-1-3-3 (11), San Diego 7-11-6-6 (30)
Attendance – 2,412
Follow the team at tacomastars.com.
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