MASL: Tacoma Stars Leapfrog Strykers with Vital 6-3 Road Victory

Staff Writer
Mar 13
3 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com

ONTARIO, Calif. — The Tacoma Stars kept their postseason aspirations alive on Thursday night, delivering a clinical performance to defeat the Empire Strykers 6-3 at Toyota Arena. The victory carries massive implications for the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) playoff picture, as the Stars (9-10-1) jumped one point ahead of the Strykers (9-11-1) for the sixth and final postseason berth.

Despite being outshot by a staggering 38-12 margin, Tacoma relied on a masterclass performance from goalkeeper Luis Birrueta and a disciplined defensive block that deflected dozens of goal-bound efforts. Birrueta finished the night with a season-high 17 saves, frustrating an Empire attack that dominated possession but struggled to find a clinical edge.

"This was arguably one of our best-prepared games of the season," Stars officials noted following the win. "To come into this environment against a direct playoff competitor and lead from the second minute until the final buzzer shows the character of this locker room. We knew we had to defend with everything we had, and Luis [Birrueta] was spectacular."

Tacoma wasted no time asserting themselves, as captain Alex Caceres caught Empire goalkeeper Brandon Gomez off guard in the second minute. Caceres whipped a precise restart from a tight angle into the far post to open the scoring. The lead doubled at the seven-minute mark when Alessandro Canale played a perfect ball off the end boards that was headed home by Nani Mendoza.

The Strykers managed to pull one back late in the first quarter through Steven Chávez, but the Stars re-established control in the second frame. Following an explosive sprint into the box by Jamael Cox, the ball fell to former Empire legend Franck Tayou, who volleyed home his own rebound to make it 3-1. The goal continued a torrid stretch for Tayou, who has now recorded six goals in just four games since returning to the Stars.

The momentum shifted further in Tacoma's favor early in the third quarter. Mike Ramos found Tyler John for a 4-1 lead before Franck Tayou turned provider, shielding the ball and laying off a pass to his brother, Uzi Tayou, who hammered home his first goal of the season. The strike marked a historic moment for the Tayou brothers, combining for a goal that effectively broke the game open.

Empire attempted a late surge, with Ukrainian forward Zakhar Shkidchenko scoring on an assist from Abdul Mansaray to cut the lead to 5-2. In the fourth quarter, Empire legend Justin Stinson added another on a Walter Díaz González free kick, pulling the hosts within two goals and igniting the crowd of 3,784.

However, the Stars' defense remained resolute. As the Strykers pushed forward with a sixth attacker, Adrian Correa chased down a late errant pass and set up Khai Brisco, who fired into the open net to seal the 6-3 result. The loss is a painful one for the Strykers, who had previously occupied the final playoff spot for several weeks.

The Stars now control their own destiny as they return home to the accesso ShoWare Center for their regular-season finale on Saturday, March 21. For the Strykers, the focus shifts to a desperate need for points in their final remaining fixtures if they hope to reclaim the sixth seed and return to the Ron Newman Cup playoffs.

Scoring Summary: