Run to the end of regular season starts with games in Harrisburg, Utica this weekend

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Tropics will kick off a four-game road trip Friday night in Harrisburg as they get set for their second-consecutive Major Arena Soccer League post-season appearance next month.

Friday’s game against the Heat starts an unprecedented five-games-in-ten-days mad dash to the finish line, with games Sunday (March 27) in Utica, Wednesday (March 30) in Ontario, Thursday (March 31) in San Diego and at home April 3 against the Baltimore Blast.

The MASL postseason schedule has not yet been finalized, either dates or teams, although the Tropics are assured of at least one of the top three seeds heading into the postseason by virtue of already having clinched an Eastern Division title with a record of 16-2-1, good for 49 points. They are 11 points ahead of Kansas City, which has clinched the Central Division, and who have 38 points. Each division winner is guaranteed one of the top three seeds in the postseason, with the next five teams with the highest point totals getting wild-card spots in the playoffs. 

 A win in Harrisburg means Florida would have no worse than the No. 2 seed heading into the final week of the season, and still would have a chance for the No. 1 seed if they can catch the San Diego Sockers, who have played one more game than Florida, and has 54 points. By being one of the top two seeds, the Tropics would have home field advantage for the first two-rounds of the playoffs, which are a home-and-home series. If the two teams split those games, a 15-minute mini-game immediately follows the conclusion of game two.

Victor Parreiras continues to lead the offense with 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points, which places him fourth overall in league scoring. 

All remaining games will be streamed live on the Twitch app, which recently became the exclusive provider of MASL games online. Games will no longer appear on the MASL YouTube channel.

Kickoff Friday in Harrisburg is at 7:35 p.m. EDT, and 2:05 p.m. Sunday in Utica. For more information, visit fltropics.com or maslsoccer.com.