Diegues has second straight four-point night as Tropics turn back Ambush, 8-5

ST CHARLES, Mo. – Ricardo Diegues got the New Year's celebration started early Sunday afternoon, collecting three goals and an assist to lead the Florida Tropics SC to an 8-5 win over the St. Louis Ambush.

Diegues, who was the team's leading scorer this past summer for Florida's sister franchise, the Lakeland Tropics of the USL Premier Development League, now has 11 goals and 11 assists as Florida improved to 6-4 on the season.

A goal by Marcello Diegues midway through the second quarter tied the game at 3-3, and was the first of five straight scores for the Tropics. St. Louis did get two-late sixth-attacker goals, but Diegues got his hat trick with nine seconds to play into an empty net.

Also getting on the scoresheet for Florida was Freddy Moojen, Ty Hall who scored on a deflected St. Louis pass from about 140 feet out, Lucas Coutinho and and Victor Parreiras. Piotr Sliwa picked up his sixth win of the season. Florida outshot the Ambush, 36-26.

The Tropics will start a three-game homestand this Saturday, Jan. 6 when they host divisional foe Syracuse, followed by a Jan. 12 rematch against the Ambush and a Jan. 20 visit by the Kansas City Comets. All games are broadcast live at www.masl.tv. For tickets, go to www.fltropics.com, or call 863-241-0101.