TUKWILA, WASH. – Tacoma Defiance (13-5-8, 52 points) defeated Earthquakes II (9-10-7, 39 points) 3-2 Sunday evening at the Starfire Stadium. Reed Baker-Whiting, Braudilio Rodrigues and Paul Rothrock all scored as Defiance claimed three points at home.
Tacoma opened the scoring in the 12th minute, with Baker-Whiting sending in a left-footed curling effort from inside the area that deflected off the far goalpost and into the back of the net. The goal marked the midfielder’s second of the season for Tacoma, also scoring against Earthquakes II earlier this year.
Rodrigues added to Defiance’s tally in the 62nd minute, getting his head on the end of a Baker-Whiting cross inside the 18-yard-box. The strike was good for Rodrigues’ 13th goal of the year, most on the team and tied for sixth in MLS NEXT Pro.
After Tacoma's Frank Daroma was shown a second yellow card and sent off in the 72nd minute, Paul Rothrock scored Defiance's third goal of the night with a great individual effort. The Seattle native beat a defender and streaked down the left flank, cutting into the box and firing a low shot to the far post past Earthquakes II’s Eric De La Cerda.
Earthquakes II recorded its first goal in the 24th minute courtesy of Alex Chow, with Eduardo Blancas adding another via a penalty kick in the 91st minute.
The win keeps Tacoma in second place in the Western Conference, three points above Austin FC II, with two matches left to play. Colorado Rapids 2 has already locked up the number one seed in the Western Conference, currently sitting at 60 points with two matches left to play.
Following tonight’s contest, Tacoma hits the road for its final road fixture of the regular season, facing off against Real Monarchs on Friday, September 15 at Zions Bank Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV).
MATCH SUMMARY
Tacoma Defiance 3 – Earthquakes II 2
Sunday September 10, 2023
Venue: Starfire Sports Stadium
Referee: Adorae Monroy
Assistants: James Ewer, Clarence Clark
Fourth official: Justin St. Pierre
Weather: 74 degree and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
TAC – Reed Baker-Whiting 12’
SJ – Alex Chow 24’
TAC – Braudilio Rodrigues (Reed Baker-Whiting) 62’
TAC – Paul Rothrock (Braudilio Rodrigues) 78’
SJ – Eduardo Blancas (penalty) 90’ + 1’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
TAC – Hal Udertiz (caution) 32’
TAC – Reed Baker-Whiting (caution) 35’
TAC – Frank Daroma (caution) 45’
TAC – Travian Sousa (caution) 56’
TAC – Snyder Brunell (caution) 67’
TAC – Frank Daroma (ejection) 72’
SJ – Aaron Edwards (caution) 81’
LINEUPS & STATS
Tacoma Defiance – Jacob Castro; Reed Baker-Whiting (Pedro 78’), Hal Udertiz – captain, Elias Katsaros (Travian Sousa 46’); Josh Atencio (Snyder Brunell 46’), Sota Kitahara, Frank Daroma, Blake Bowen; Georgi Minoungou (Gio Miglietti 63’), Paul Rothrock, Braudilio Rodrigues (Juan Alvarez 80’)
Substitutes not used: Wallis Lapsley, Eythor Bjørgolfsson, Chris Aquino
Shots on goal: 11
Fouls: 5
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3
Earthquakes II – Eric De La Cerda; Kevin Oseguera (Christian Metelitsa 87’), Keegan Tingey, Alejandro Cano, Aaron Edwards (Samuel Navarette 90’); Jerry Ayon, Roberto Hategan (Jermaine Spivey 78’); Alex Chow (Rohan Rajagopal 90’), Eduardo Blancas, Roka Tsunehara (Sebastian Carbajal 78’); José Serrano
Substitutes not used: John Nicolson
Total shots: 15
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 16
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 2
