STARS HOST SAN DIEGO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

by Pete Richmire/Stars

The Tacoma Stars (3-6-1) return to the accesso ShoWare Center following a five-road game stretch to face the San Diego Sockers (10-0-1) on Friday and Saturday nights. As the 2021-22 MASL season reaches the mid-point, these two games are pivotal for both teams. San Diego will look to stretch their five-point lead over Ontario, who is inactive this week. The Stars will need to gain ground on Milwaukee, who is three points ahead of Tacoma for the final wild card spot.

Nick Perera continues to lead the Stars in scoring and remain in the league’s top five with 24 points (13G-11A). Two more Stars have 10+ points this season in Alessandro Canale (10G-3A) and Vini Dantas (7G-4A). On defense, Cory Keitz has rapidly increased his block number and now sits with 11.

In goal, Danny Waltman has started every game for Tacoma and brings a 3-6-1 record with a goals-against-average of 6.80 and .635 save percentage to the game. The number one keeper on the Sockers side is Boris Pardo and his 7-0-1 record, 5.26 GAA, and .693 sv%.

Offensively, the Sockers have no shortage of scoring threats with seven players in double-digit production led by Brandon Escoto’s 21 points (8G-13A). Escoto got the game-winning goal in overtime vs Tacoma in their last meeting. 

Tavoy Morgan is second on the squad with 20 points (15G-5A), followed by Kraig Chiles (9G-7A), Leonardo De Oliveira (4G-11A); Juan Manuel Rojo 8G-6A), Christian Gutierrez (10G-2A), and Charlie Gonzalez (7G-5A).

After this weekend’s games, the Stars will conclude their season series with San Diego on March 20 with a visit to Pechanga Arena San Diego.