Doubleheader weekend as Tropics visit St. Louis Friday, Kansas City Saturday

LAKELAND, Fla – The Florida Tropics SC will play in their third and final back-to-back games in the 2018-19 season this weekend when they travel to St. Louis Friday and Kansas City Saturday for a pair of Major Arena Soccer League games.

Kickoff against the Ambush in St. Louis is at 7:35 CST and Saturday afternoon in Kansas City at 1:05 p.m. CST. Both games will be broadcast live at www.masl.tv.

The games will mark the debut of the Tropics newest acquisition, Matt Clare, who came over from the Tacoma Stars earlier this week. Clare played for the last three full season with the San Diego, and was one of the key players that helped the Sockers to their last two Western Conference finals playoff appearances. In 59 Sockers regular season games, the 30-year old native of Ft. Lauderdale scored 58 goals. He was sent to Tacoma in a three-team blockbuster trade in the off-season, and had five goals in 10 games for the Stars so far in 2018-19.

The Tropics, however, will be without leading scorer Guilherme, out with a knee injury. He is the team's leading scorer with 15 goals and five assists in 10 games this year. Additional newcomers Andre Braitwaite and Antonio Manfut will be in the lineup for their third games each since being acquired in trade. The two have combined for five goals in two games. 

St. Louis is led by MASL Rookie of the Year candidate Zach Reget, who netted his 15th goal of the season in a 9-7 loss at Florida last Saturday. Kansas City's Leo Gibson is among the league leaders offensively, tied for the MASL lead in total points with 33, and first in assists with 18.

Florida will stay on the road next weekend with a single game in Milwaukee Feb. 9 before returning to the RP Funding Center on Saturday, Feb. 16 for another showdown with rival Orlando. For more information or tickets, call 863-240-0101, or visit www.fltropics.com