Cedar Rapids Rampage at Tacoma Stars Game Notes and Preview
January 12, 2017 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA- The Cedar Rapids Rampage embark on their longest road trip as they travel to the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington to meet the Tacoma Stars.
The Stars got the best of the Rampage in their only prior meeting. Tacoma dealt the Rampage a 7-5 loss last January at the ShoWare Center, the arena former Seattle Impact players Gordy Gurson and Bobby Hurwitz once called home. Cedar Rapids will face former Rampage forward Alex Megson for the first time since he signed with this Stars this offseason.
The Rampage are coming off a 7-5 loss to Chicago that ended their seven-game winning streak, and while their 4-1 road record is formidable, the Stars are 5-0 at home. Tacoma is 3-0 on their current five game homestand.
If the Rampage find themselves in a close game late they will have to pay special attention to "Kid Clutch" Michael Ramos, who has scored some of the biggest goals for the Stars. Cedar Rapids will counter with "Kid Dynamite" Gurson, who is riding a 27-game point scoring streak.
In the nets, rookie Brett Petricek will square off against legendary veteran Danny Waltman.
While Waltman lends the Stars some "star" power, the whole of the team has been greater than the sum of the parts. Head coach Darren Sawatzky gets a lot of credit for that and was named MASL Coach of the Year last season.
Player/coach Hewerton Moreira knows the importance of this game, coming off a loss and with the defending champion Baltimore Blast waiting for them when they return home next weekend. The Stars will focus on Gurson and Hewerton so the Rampage may need offensive contributions from players like Hurwitz, Tony Walls, Angel Curiel and Derek Huffman.
The Rampage will return home for a double header weekend, January 20-21, against the defending Newman Cup champion Baltimore Blast and the Syracuse Silver Knights. Tickets are on sale starting at just $9 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or the U.S. Cellular Center box office.
What: Cedar Rapids Rampage (8-3) at Tacoma Stars (7-3)When: Friday, January 13 9:35 PM CST
Where: ShoWare Center, Kent, WA
All-time series: Stars lead 1-0
Players to watch:Cedar Rapids:Gordy Gurson (15 goals, 8 assists, 23 points in 11 games)Hewerton Moreira (13-7-20 in 11 games)
Tacoma:
Alex Megson (9-2-11 in 10 games)
Micheal Ramos (7-8-15 in 10 games)
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