Zach Reget set a team record with eight points, and the Florida Tropics reduced their magic number for clinching first place the Major Arena Soccer League’s Eastern Conference after they rolled the St. Louis Ambush, 14-6, Sunday at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
With his five goals (to go along with three assists), Reget also tied a team record for goals in a game. With Utica’s loss Sunday, the Tropics need to win just one of their remaining three games or have Utica drop one of its remaining five games, to clinch the top seed in the conference playoffs which will be played starting the weekend of March 27. The Tropics will be guaranteed home-field advantage for at least the first two rounds of the Ron Newman Cup playoffs.
Florida came roaring out the gates with four goals in the first 10 minutes, and St. Louis went to an unorthodox strategy of pulling its goaltender for the rest of the game. That strategy worked for a while, as the Ambush pulled to within 6-4 in the third quarter before Florida reeled off seven unanswered goals.
Guilherme and Victor Parrieras each had a goal and three assists, while Drew Ruggles, Fernando Machado, and Ricardo Carvalho had two goals each. Lucas Teixeira also scored a goal as Florida improved to 18-3 on the season. St. Louis fell to 9-12.
Florida could clinch as early as Wednesday, when Utica plays in Harrisburg, but could also do it next Sunday, March 15, when they host the Kansas City Comets. Kickoff at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland is 3:05 p.m. For ticket information, call 863-240-0101, or visit www.fltropics.com.