Arico hat trick lifts Florida Tropics SC to 5-2 win over Harrisburg

LAKELAND , Fla. – Anthony Arico recorded his first career arena soccer hat trick as the Florida Tropics improved to 9-7 on the season with a 5-2 win over the Harrisburg Heat Friday night on SYKES Field at the RP Funding Center.

Arico scored in the second, and added the team's fourth and fifth goals in the second half, his last one coming on a spectacular individual effort fo give him nine goals on the year now.  Captain Freddy Moojen got the game winner with a nice strike to the upper corner from 45-feet out in the third. Raphael Schlemper opened the scoring for Florida in the second.

Harrisburg, down 2-0 early in the third, tied it on goals from Lucio Gonzaga and David Mellor less than two minutes apart in the third.

The Tropics are now tied with Syracuse for second in the Major Arena Soccer League's eastern division, and each team has six games remaining. Syracuse will play five of six at home, however, while Florida only has two home games left, and finishes with four straight on the road.

Florida will close the home portion of their schedule with a doubleheader next weekend against the visiting San Diego Sockers. Kickoff is 7:35 each night, Friday, Feb. 16 and Saturday, Feb. 17. Tickets are available at www.fltropics.com, or by calling 863-240-0101. All six of Florida's remaining regular season games will also be broadcast live at www.masl.tv.