The Heat is on, Harrisburg visits Florida Tropics for Saturday night showdown

LAKELAND – The Florida Tropics  SC will look to break two losing streaks when they host the Harrisburg Heat in a Major Arena Soccer League eastern division showdown Saturday on SYKES Field at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Kickoff is at 7:35.

The Tropics have dropped two straight, and also have fallen in their last two home games. The team's last win on SYKES Field came Nov. 18 when they defeated the Baltimore Blast, 5-4. Florida has lost its last two, both to the two-time defending league champion Baltimore Blast, which included a 10-1 loss at Baltimore on Dec. 10 and a 7-6 home loss on Dec. 15. The Tropics last win came on the road on Dec. 9, 9-4 in Syracuse.

Florida is led by captain and player assistant coach Freddy Moojen who has picked up six goals and nine assists in Florida's first eight games (4-4). The Tropics team leader in goals are Ricardo Diegues and Victor Parreiras with seven each.

This is the first of four meetings between the two divisional foes this year. Harrisburg won all four between the two sides last season.

Harrisburg's Ricardo Carvallho is the Heat's leading scorer with 10 goals and five assists. Lucio Gonzaga leads the team in goals with 11. Harrisburg is 4-5, one-half game behind the Tropics in third place in the MASL's eastern division. Only the top two teams in the division qualify for the post-season.

Tickets are available by calling 863-205-4131, or on the team's website at www.fltropics.com. This game, and all Tropics home and away contests, are broadcast live at www.masl.tv.