Despite a valiant effort in the fourth quarter, the St. Louis Ambush dropped their home opener 5-3 to the Tacoma Stars Saturday night at the Family Arena.
Cody Costakis celebrates after his goal. Photo Credit: Mick Lite
Michael Ramos put Tacoma on the board first with an unassisted tally at 12:56 of the first quarter. The Ambush would answer just seven seconds later when goalkeeper Casey Clark lobbed a long pass to Cody Costakis, who put the ball in the upper ninety to tie the contest.
Tacoma regained the lead 5:57 into the second period when a shot by Mark Lee hit the dasher board and found Alex Megson, who beat Clark for the goal. Lights went dark in the Family Arena for over twenty minutes, causing a stoppage in play. When they came back on, no further goals were scored in the quarter and time elapsed on the clock with the visitors holding a 2-1 advantage at the halftime break.
Kentaro Takada. Photo Credit: Mick Lite
Tacoma went up by two (3-1) when Joey Gjertsen scored at 8:17 of the third quarter. The Stars increased their lead to 4-1, thanks to Derek Johnson’s tally at 13:21.
Tacoma saw their lead bulge to four (5-1) when Megson scored his second of the night at 5:32 of the final stanza. The Ambush chipped away at the lead when Daniel Berko scored his first goal of the season at 12:55. With Kentaro Takada in the game as the sixth attacker, Richard Schmermund buried a restart goal at 13:36 to make the score 5-3. It was too little, too late for the Ambush as the clock ran out and Tacoma secured the victory.
Playing in his first professional game, Casey Clark made 18 saves on 23 attempts for the Ambush. For Tacoma, Danny Waltman saved 12 on 15 opportunities.
The Ambush are back in action next Saturday, November 26, when they host the Chicago Mustangs at the Family Arena at 7:05 p.m.
