Stars Drop First of Two Weekend Games to Savage 6-5 in OT

February 18, 2023 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Tacoma Stars News Release

Mike Ramos of the Tacoma Stars vs. the Chihuahua Savage
(Tacoma Stars)

KENT, WA. – The Stars (5-6-1) came from behind to take a 4th quarter lead but ultimately fell to the Chihuahua Savage (11-2-1) by a 6-5 final in overtime at the accesso ShoWare Center Friday night. Roberto Escalante netted three goals for Chihuahua, including the game-tying marker with 1:03 left in the final frame to force overtime. The teams will conclude the weekend series on Sunday at 5:05 pm for First Responder Appreciation Night.

The Stars’ trend of falling behind early, then coming back continued Friday as the Savage took the lead twice in the first half. The first came on Escalante’s first goal of the night which was a power play goal with 11:37 left in the opening quarter.

Chihuahua doubled their lead to 2-0 but not without some extra effort. Edgar Gonzalez was turned away by Tacoma Stars keeper Danny Waltman on a penalty kick following a blue card to Alex Caceres after the ball grazed his left arm while on the goal line blocking a shot. The PK was no good, but the Savage were able to convert on the ensuing power play with Escalante’s second goal of the game.

The Stars got on the scoring sheet with less than a minute to play in the 1st quarter. Nick Perera cued up a restart from the left side and went cross-field with a pass to Adam West who beat Chihuahua keeper Berna Valdovinos for his first goal of the season and to cut the visitor’s lead to 2-1.

Perera turned up on the scoring side of the Stars’ next goal. He found a rebound about four feet in front of the goal, volleyed the ball to himself, spun around, and one-timed the shot past Valdovinos to level the game at 2-2 with 13:35 left to play in the half.

The even score didn’t last long though, as Brandon Gonzalez fired a shot that deflected of Stars’ defender Cory Keitz and changed directions enough to get past Waltman and make it a 3-2 Savage lead. The teams went to the break with that score.

Tacoma went on a three-goal run to eventually the only two-goal lead of the game. It started late in the 3rd quarter when Chiva Ramirez shook off a Savage defender with a spin to his right side and a shot into the lower left corner of the goal to tie the game up at 3-3.

Eddie Na connected with Jamel Cox on a give-and-go which put Cox one-on-one with Valdovinos and resulted in the Stars taking a 4-3 lead with 0:26 left in the 3rd.

The two-goal lead came…