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MASL Florida Tropics SC

Florida Tropics Game Notes

January 2, 2023 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Florida Tropics SC News Release


LAST TIME / ALL TIME - This will be the seventh all time meeting between the two teams., with the Tropics having a record of 5-1 against the team formerly known as the Ontario Fury. That includes a perfect mark of 3-0 at Toyota Arena. The last game between the two came March 30 last spring when Florida took a 6-3 win at Toyota Arena. Zach Reget had three goals, while Victor Parreiras had a goal and two assists. Jorge Navarete got the win in goal. Zach Reget is the active all-time leading goal scorer against Empire with six goals while Franck Tayou is Empire's all-time leading active scorer against the Tropics with 10 goals.

VIVA VINI! -- One of the most dangerous target forwards over the past eight years in the Major Arena Soccer League - Vini Dantas - has joined the Florida Tropics on a two-year deal to start the 2022-23 season ... Dantas played most of those years with the Baltimore Blast, starting his career the 2014-15 season - when he earned All MASL Rookie Team honors - and was an immediate offensive force, scoring 16 goals in 15 games. Since that time, he has gone on to score 197 goals and add 98 assists in 162 career regular season and playoff games. A physical presence at 6'-1" and 200 pounds, the 32-year old native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, had his best season in 2019-20 when he banged home 37 goals and added 17 assists in 22 games.

He was traded to the Tacoma Stars prior to the start of the 2020-21 season, and was traded back to the Blast with just three games remaining in the 2021-22 campaign. He finished last season with 19 goals in 16 games played, to go along with eight assists for 27 total points. ... He was a key part of Baltimore's three- straight MASL championships between 2017-2019, and was the 2017 Most Valuable Player in the playoffs, getting the game-winning goal in the finals against Sonora. He ended that post season with 18 total points (nine goals and nine assists) in nine games.

WE LIKE MIKE - Mike Jones was acquired in a trade with the Dallas Sidekicks in late December. The defender was traded for Tropics forward VcMor Eligwe.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION - More information on the 2022-23 Tropics can be found at www.fltropics.com.

Under the news tab, you will find the team's 193-page record book. The record book was created and compiled by the Tropics official photographer Christopher Arnold.

A TERRIFIC TRIO - The last three years have been very good ones for the Tropics. Their 46 regular season wins in that time span is tops in the Major Arena Soccer League. Next on the list is the San Diego Sockers with 42. The Sockers defeated Florida two games to none in the Championship Finals in 2021-22.

JORGE OF THE JUNGLE - With the Tropics losing goaltenders Rainer Hauss and Hugo Silva to visa issues, they have turned to local star Jorge Navarrate who played high school soccer about 20 minutes from Lakeland in Plant City, and four-years of college soccer at Southeastern University, about two miles from the RP Funding Center. His college coach was also Clay Roberts. Navarrete is currently ninth in goals against average (5.46), seventh in saves percentage (.730), second in saves (89) and tied for second in wins (4).

VIVA VICTOR TOO! - Captain Victor Parterres continues to re-write the Florida Tropics record book (which can be found in its entirety at www.fltropics.com,, go to the news tab and click on Record Book). Parreiras has been with the Tropics since their inception, and has become the franchise's all time leading scorer in both goals, assists and total points. For both regular season and playoff games, Victor has made 134 appearances for the Tropics, with 111 goals and 96 assists for 206 points. Entering the season, second on the Tropics all times list for points is Ricardo Diegues (122), followed by Ricardo Carvalho (114) and Zach Reget (97). For goals, Diegues is second at 86, while for assists, Carvalho is second with 56. For his entire MASL career, he has played in 156 games and has 143 goals and 105 assists.

CLOSE CALLS - In Florida's six seasons, they have played in 43 one-goal games, winning 19 and losing 24. Twelve times they have gone to overtime, with a record of 4-9. In games that have gone to a shootout, they are 0-2.

FIRST THINGS FIRST - The Tropics record when scoring the first goal of the game is impressive. When they've done that, Florida is 57-17 in franchise history. When conceding the first goal of a game, they are just 21-43.

ONLY THE HALF OF IT - Leading at halftime is a pretty indicator for Florida. In six years, they are 61-10 when leading after two quarters. Conversely, when trailing at the half, they are 9-42. When tied at the half, they are 7-6.

MILESTONE MOMENTS TONIGHT

Lucas Teixeira is two assists away from 25 career assists.

Anthony Arico is one goal away from 50 career goals.

Ricardo Carvalho one goal away from 150 career goals.

Kiel Williams three points away from 100 career points.

DREW DOES IT - Drew Ruggles, the 2019-20 MASL Defender of the Year, has now scored 34 goals in his three-plus seasons with the Tropics. Of those 31, seven have been game winners, including Dec. 17 against Utica City. Victor Parreiras leads the franchise 10 game winning goals, and Ricardo Diegues has eight. Ruggles, even as a defender, is third now on that list.

BLOCK HEADS - The Tropics, despite usually gaudy offensive stats, are stout defensively as well most nights. They have three defenders among the leaders in blocked shots so far this season including Rafa Alves (16) which is tied for second in the league, Chad Vandegriffe, the reigning MASL Defender of the Year who is fourth in the league with 12 blocks, and Drew Ruggles who is tied for fifth in the league with 11 blocks.

INJURY REPORT - Unavailable due to visa issues are Ricardo Diegues, Rainer Hauss and Bruno Henrique.

They are not listed on the active roster. (All three are currently playing for the Iowa Demon Hawks in Major Arena Soccer League 2). Julio Varela and Lucio Gonzaga are questionable with leg injuries. Lucas Teixeira is questionable with a leg injury.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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