For the Reporter

The Tacoma Stars kick off the MASL Ron Newman Cup Playoffs on Thursday against the Pacific Division champion San Diego Sockers at the accesso ShoWare Center.

Kickoff is 7:35 p.m. for the first leg of the home-and-home series. San Diego (19-3) comes in on a seven-game winning streak.

Game 2 is Saturday in San Diego. Should a tiebreaker be needed, the teams will play a mini-game immediately after Game 2.

Riding a three-game winning streak, the Stars (11-11) face the MASL’s top two goalkeepers statistically in Boris Pardo and Chris Toth and an offense that averaged 7.5 goals per game with a plus-82 goal differential for the season.

Kraig Chiles topped the team in scoring with 56 points (38 goals, 18 assist) while Brandon Escoto (33), Luan Oliveira (30), Matt Clare (28) and Erick Tovar (26) all had 25-plus points this year.

Tacoma’s tough defense can slow down potent offenses. Goalie Danny Waltman is fourth in the MASL in wins with 11, with Troy Peterson leading the team with 17 blocks.

Offensively, the Stars are led by Nick Perera who has 24 goals and 12 assists to top the team with 36 points. Taylor Walter Bond (24), Raphael Cox (22) and Philip Lund (20) join Perera as 20-plus point scorers for Tacoma this season.

San Diego swept the four-game season series with Tacoma, including 4-3 and 10-3 wins at the ShoWare Center. Both games in San Diego were 8-3 wins for the Sockers.

For tickets, call 1-800-STARS-84 or go to tacomastars.com.