For the Reporter
The Tacoma Stars’ 20-game Major Arena Soccer League slate includes 10 home contests at the ShoWare Center this season, the team’s first full season in the league.
“We are looking forward to getting started this fall with the MASL season,” Stars coach and general manager Darren Sawatzky said. “We want to be the winter destination for soccer in the Northwest, and we look forward to competing out of the gate.”
The Stars open play on the road on Saturday, Oct. 24 with a matchup against the Dallas Sidekicks. The game reignites a passionate rivalry with the Sidekicks that began with the 1987 Major Indoor Soccer League Championship series.
The ShoWare Center plays host to the Stars’ first home game of the season on Friday, Nov. 6, when the club welcomes the visiting Sacramento Surge.
Sacramento coach Mark Bickham’s ties to soccer in the Pacific Northwest are extensive, including one season playing for the Stars in 1992-93 and one season as an assistant coach with the club in 1995-96.
Following the home opener, the Stars embark on a three-game road trip that includes a stop in Turlock, Calif., to face the Express on Nov. 13 and a pair of matchups at Sacramento on Nov. 14 and 15.
The club returns to the ShoWare Center for a set of three home games against Soles De Sonora on Nov. 20 and two more games against Dallas on Dec. 4 and 6. The Sidekicks return to Tacoma in a blockbuster MASL rivalry weekend at the Showare center
Season ticket packages, group outings and suite offerings for the Tacoma Stars 2015 season are available. To purchase, call 1-844-STARS-TIME or visit the Stars online at www.tacomastars.com.
For team updates, follow the Stars on Twitter (@TacomaStarsSC) or like the team on Facebook.
Notes
The Stars recently signed striker Mark Lee and midfielder Raphael Cox.
Lee, 27, spent four years competing with the Sounders U-23 team in the Premier Development League, where he earned PDL first-team honors multiple times before joining the Stars last season. Prior to his time with the Sounders U-23 club, Lee played one season for the Kitsap Pumas, also a member of the PDL.
“Lee is a pit bull and I have enjoyed having him on my teams,” Sawatzky said. “You can play Mark in a multitude of roles and he gets the job done with every task. This should be a good year for him playing the position he loves indoors. His leadership will help our young team come along.”
Lee played collegiately for Northern Idaho College and Pierce College, and originally hails from Puyallup.
“I am excited about being part of the organization and playing at the highest level of indoor soccer,” Lee said.
Cox, 28, played one season with Highline Community College before transferring to the University of Washington prior to his sophomore year. Coming out of college he was drafted into Major League Soccer by Real Salt Lake, where he won the MLS Cup in his first professional season. The Tacoma native has spent time in the NASL with both the Tampa Bay Rowdies and the Atlanta Silverbacks. He is currently playing for the Charlotte Independence, and will join Tacoma following the conclusion of the USL season.
“Raph’s resume speaks for itself and we love signing winners,” Sawatzky said. “Raph gives us another fast attacking player with good experience. I expect to see him in the score column most nights.”
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