Rojas named to MASL Team of the Week, Diegues receives honorable mention

Lakeland, FL – Victor Rojas joined the Tropics inaugural season roster two months ago after being found at the open try out. Rojas scored two goals on the night, with his first goal being the franchises first ever. His second goal helped lead the Tropics to victory after being down 4-1 at the start of fourth quarter to the San Diego Sockers.

While Rojas may have scored two crucial goals on the night, it was Ricardo Diegues who scored the game-winning goal on a bicycle kick with less then 2 minutes to play. Diegues also had 2 goals on the night, and both players were vital assets to the Tropics fourth quarter comeback.

The MASL Team of the Week is selected using the Stars awarded at each game and by soliciting nominations from each team. Players nominated by teams were each awarded three points and stars were awarded 3 points (1st Star), 2 points (2nd star) and 1 Point (3rd star) respectively. Here is this weeks full roster for the team of the week:

Goalkeeper: 

Stephen Paterson (Kansas City Comets) – Paterson only allowed three goals on the night and also scored the first goal of the game with a shot from just past the yellow line.

Defender:

Victor Rojas (Florida Tropics) – In Florida’s inaugural game, Rojas helped the team to immediate success. From his defensive position, he scored two goals on the night, including the score that tied the game at 5-5 towards the end of the game.

Midfielders:

Max Ferdinand (Milwaukee Wave) – After missing the Wave’s season opener last week, Ferdinand played in both games this weekend for Milwaukee. He contributed a goal and three assists in the team’s win against the Blast then added another assist the next day against the Heat.

Brandon Escoto (San Diego Sockers)  - Escoto scored two goals against Dallas on Saturday, including the score that tied the game in the final minutes of regulation. He then sealed the win by burying his attempt in the shootout.

Forwards:

Efrain ‘Wilo’ Martinez (Chicago Mustangs) – Martinez totaled five goals, over the weekend in two wins. In the home opener, he had a hat trick and the game-winning goal in OT.

Fernando Gatica (Harrisburg Heat) – The definition of clutch, Gatica tied the game for the Heat in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Wave. After that he followed up with the game-winning goal in overtime to give his team their first win of the young season.

Honorable Mention:

Josh Lemos (Milwaukee Wave), Boris Pardo (San Diego Sockers), Jesus Flores (Chicago Mustangs), Mauricio Salles (Ontario Fury), Cristian Gutierrez (Baja Atletico), Michael Ramos (Tacoma Stars), Sean Totsch (Milwaukee Wave), Derek Johnson (Tacoma Stars), Anibal Echeverria (Turlock Express), Taylor Bond (Chicago Mustangs), Ricardo De Queiroz Diegues (Florida Tropics), Hiram Ruiz (Soles de Sonora), Leo Gibson (Kansas City Comets)

To see Victor, Ricardo, and the rest of the Tropics inaugural season roster in action call 863-333-5353 or visit www.FLTropics.com

About Florida Tropics SC: Florida Tropics SC is a professional indoor soccer team that will begin play in November of 2016 at the Lakeland Center. The team will play in the Major Arena Soccer League, which is the highest level of professional indoor soccer in North America. To stay up to date on team information, player signings and special offers, “Like” the teams Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/FLTropics). For more information visit www.FLTropics.com. To purchase tickets, call 863-333-5353, or visit Store.FLTropics.com

Photo Credit: Charles Baker III, www.charliethird.com.