Strykers Fall Late, Drop 3–2 Road Decision to Tacoma

Dec 21, 2025 22 Views MASL

Kent, Wash. — The Empire Strykers came up just short for the second straight night, falling 3–2 on the road to the Tacoma Stars on Saturday in Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) play. The loss drops Empire to 1-3-0 on the season.

Playing without star attacker Marco Fabián and in the second match of a back-to-back, the Strykers showed resilience against a well-rested Tacoma side but were ultimately undone by timely finishing and a strong performance in goal from Stars goalkeeper Luis Birrueta, who recorded 12 saves and an 85.7% save percentage.

Empire’s third consecutive defeat came despite standout performances from goalkeeper Brian Orozco and defender Robert Palmer. Orozco not only posted a solid 78.6% save percentage but also scored Empire’s first goal of the match, while Palmer anchored the back line with two blocks and an assist.

Tacoma struck early, opening the scoring just over a minute into the contest when Jamael Cox carried the ball out of his own half, cut inside from the left, and finished inside the near post. The Stars doubled their lead midway through the opening quarter as Marco Correa led a counterattack and set up Tyler John for the finish. Empire narrowly avoided falling behind by three moments later, with Palmer blocking Eddie Na’s shot off the goal line after Orozco had been beaten.

The Strykers responded late in the first quarter when Orozco joined the attack and fired a long-range effort that deflected off Tacoma defender Alex Caceres and past Birrueta to make it 2–1.

After a quiet second period, Empire controlled possession following halftime but struggled to generate high-quality chances. Tacoma extended its lead late in the third quarter during a five-on-five sequence following offsetting blue cards, as Logan Jones finished a setup from Caceres to make it 3–1.

Empire pushed hard in the fourth quarter, finally breaking through late with the sixth attacker on the field. Justin Stinson scored with just under 37 seconds remaining, rifling a right-footed shot into the near-side upper corner to cut the deficit to one. The 2025 MASL All-Star needed little space to release the strike, catching Birrueta off guard.

Despite a frantic final push, the Strykers were unable to find an equalizer, as Tacoma closed out the match with disciplined defending and another strong stand from Birrueta.

Empire will look to bounce back on New Year’s Eve when it travels to face the Milwaukee Wave. The Strykers then return home to Toyota Arena for a rematch with the Tacoma Stars on Thursday, January 8.