The final weekend of 2023 brought so many highlight moments from the Major Arena Soccer League. The I-70 series has been Kansas City all the way but St Louis is showing signs that they have more to them. Baltimore may have turned the corner. San Diego and Utica are just growing the gap. The only teams to not play this weekend were Monterrey Flash and Chihuahua Savage. Let's take a closer look into the games from this weekend.

Thursday December 28th, 2023

Milwaukee Wave 7-1 Dallas Sidekicks

As the saying goes, this was a game of two halves. The first half was a battle of two composed teams, who were testing each other out. Only one goal came out of this half. Milwaukee was the aggressor of the two with 20 shots.

In the second half, Milwaukee started to show signs of what they could be. Scoring six goals to which Dallas only answered with one. Most of the Wave’s goals came from their newest signing, Ricardo Carvalho. He ended the game with four goals. On the other side, Dallas looked very timid without Blas Pérez, their set pieces took a big hit. Juan Gamboa had a huge game for them, making 20 saves.

St. Louis Ambush 4-6 Kansas City Comets

This game proved something that St. Louis has been trying to show us, they can play. The game started in a back and forth affair. The two would trade off scoring until the 7th minute of the 3 quarter, where Kansas City would pull away by two goals. William Eskay would pull one back for St. Louis but to have John Sosa put the Comets ahead by two goals once again.

The game ended in a 6-4 win for Kansas City but there are some important takeaways. One, St Louis can become a playoff team. Two, Kansas City has found themselves a diamond and his name is Leonardo Acosta. Three, the I-70 series is one to watch.

Tacoma Stars 7-5 Empire Strykers

This was a great match up. I think these two teams will be fighting for the final playoff position come the end of the regular season. The first quarter saw the Stars take the lead. The second quarter, Empire would score three goals to take the lead but the Stars would tie it up right before the end of the first half.

The second half would see Tacoma score three goals and take the lead, one which they would not lose, eventually giving them a 7-5 victory. An important note, the Stars did this without goals from Nick Perera. The hero for Tacoma was Alessandro Canales, with three goals and for Empire, the hero was Marco Fabian with a goal and two assists.

Friday December 29th, 2023

Harrisburg Heat 4-13 Baltimore Blast

Here is the question, is this the return of Baltimore of old or is this just a fluke? Baltimore really was in control of this full game. Harrisburg scored once every quarter and Baltimore out scored them by two or more goals in each quarter.

The Blast’s success could be credited to the fact that Baltimore took shots, 8 or more in each quarter. Could also be given to the return to form for Juan Pereira, two goals and two assists, and the return to form for Raphael Araujo, two goals and one assist. Finally, the credit could go to the breath of refresh air Victor Parreiras gave the team. Many believe he would be the spark for them this season and in this game he was. He ended the game with two goals and one assist, but it was his play on the ball that made the difference.

As for Harrisburg, a lot of questions need to be asked. Only one keeper was rostered, the team was lacking bite. Who should the finger be pointing to? Coaching? Back office? Or maybe it's too early in this season for that but things are not looking too good.

Saturday December 30th, 2023

Milwaukee Wave 6-8 Texas Outlaws

Some were calling this the game of the year, early in the game but the Outlaws ended up being too much for the Wave in the end. From quarters one to quarters three each team had six goals to their name. The Outlaws being the consistent side and scoring in each period. The Wave would have a breakout fourth period with four goals out of six being scored in this quarter.

However, this is when the Outlaws flexed their muscles called Dantas and Morales. Each player scored a goal in the fourth quarter. I will say, early in the year, I was quick to say Vini Dantas is no longer “him” but he is proving me wrong with two back to back stars to his name (stars are awarded to players for their performance in said game). As for Morales, this might be premature, but we may be looking at an MVP candidate in action.

Tacoma Stars 3-9 San Diego Sockers

This is the third time these two sides have played each other and the result has stranded the same, Sockers win. The game was another display of the Sockers slow cooking the opponent, meaning not having an outstanding quarter rather having a consistent performance in each period. They scored two or more goals in each period and before you knew it, San Diego was up by six goals. Even though they lost, Tacoma did make history. Goalkeeper Chris Toth became the MASL All-time Saves Leader with 1943 saves by the end of the game.

Chris Toth into the record books this weekend.

Sunday December 31st, 2023

Harrisburg Heat 7-13 Utica City FC

Recall I said questions need to be asked about the Heat? Yeah this game only added to that statement. There is not much to say, Harrisburg was outplayed and more importantly outscored. They would open up the scoring but only to see the City flood gates open. They would end up being the game needed to break Franck Tayou’s dry spell, he needed three goals and two assists. The only positive for Harrisburg is that they still have fight in them. Scoring four goals in the last period.

Kansas City Comets 6-5 St. Louis Ambush

Here we go, round three of the I-70 series! Another one for the books. The game started in Ambush’s favor but Comets would not take long to even this out, the first half ended tied at two-two. The third quarter would see Kansas City take the lead with four goals. St Louis did fight back but only could find three goals by the end of the game.

Zach Reget has been a menace for the Comets.

Kansas City's win in part is due to Ray Lee and Zach Reget absolutely ballin 'out. Ray ended the game with two goals and one assist, Zach ended with three goals and two assists. For St Louis, there are some positives, they can play (I say this for the second time) and their pick up of Skylar Funk is one for the future.

- Geo Monterroso

While Geo is a contributing writer for Protagonist Soccer, he’s also the founder and host of the Goals N Boards podcast. It’s the best podcast strictly devoted to MASL.