Five goal first too much for Tropics to overcome in 9-1 road loss in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE–  The Florida Tropics SC again had trouble getting the offense started, failing to score in the first half for the second straight road game, and fell 9-1 to the Milwaukee Wave in a Major Arena Soccer League Game Saturday night.

Milwaukee, which jumped out to a 5-0 lead through one quarter, has already clinched first place in the MASL South Central Division and improved to 18-3 with hopes of catching the San Diego Sockers (18-1) for best overall record in the league which ensures home field advantage throughout the playoffs. Florida falls to 6-15, and 1-10 on the road.

The second half started no better, with the Wave getting two goals in the opening 2:22 of the third quarter to take a 7-0 lead, much to the delight of the home crowd of 4,838. Milwaukee outshot the Tropics 32-22.

Ian Bennett, Max Ferdinand, Issac Pereyra and Robert Renaud got two goals each for the Wave. Victor Parreiras broke the shutout bid of Milwaukee's Josh Lemos with Florida's only goal of the game at the 7:24 mark of the fourth.

Florida will return to the RP Funding Center in Lakeland on Saturday, March 30, for their next- to-last home game of the 2018-19 season when they host the Kansas City Comets. Saturday's kickoff is at 7:05 p.m. The Tropics will host the defending three-time defending MASL champion Baltimore Blast on April 6 on Fan Appreciation Night, and close out the 2018-19 season with a road game in Orlando on April 13. For more information, visit www.fltropics.com.