Kansas City Comets soccer team fine-tuning ahead of first game against Wichita Wings
The Kansas City Comets indoor soccer team opens its 2021-22 season on Nov. 12, playing host to the Wichita Wings in the first game of the Preseason Central Cup Tournament.
The Comets then travel to St. Charles to face the Omaha Kings on Nov. 13. The St. Louis Ambush is the fourth team in the tournament. The Comets and Ambush both play in the first division of the Major Arena Soccer League; Omaha and Wichita play in the MASL 2.
This season is scheduled to be a full one, a welcome change after the shortened MASL season that took place earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Comets were able to play just 12 games this past season, half of a typical MASL campaign.
The Star will be publishing weekly updates throughout the season. Here’s the first installment of what’s going on with the Comets.
MASL regular season
The Comets and Ambush officially kick off the 2021-22 MASL season with a home-and-home matchup between the two cross-state-rivals.
Kansas City plays in St. Louis on Friday, Nov. 26, then returns home the next day to face the Ambush again on Saturday, Nov. 27 at Cable Dahmer Arena. The rest of the league starts regular-season play the following weekend.
Revamping the roster
The Comets have been busy re-signing veterans and adding new players. Mike Da-Silva and James Togbah were both on loan to KC last season but have now been signed to contracts with the Comets.
The Comets added firepower in signing two players from the MASL 2. Standout Omaha midfielder Ali Sodal (20 goals, 6 assists) was signed to a two-year contract, and Wichita Wings forward and leading scorer Eduardo “Benji” Monreal (16 goals, 8 assists) inked a three-year deal.
Defender/midfielder Lesia Thetsane played last season for Kaw Valley FC and was signed to a three-year contract.
The Comets also brought back two players with a wealth of pro outdoor experience. Kevin Ellis was a homegrown player for Sporting KC and has re-signed for one year.
Ray Lee is local, too, with more than 100 USL games to his credit. Lee previously split time between indoor and outdoor soccer but signed a two-year contract and is focused on playing all season with the Comets in 2021-22.
Comets in the news
The Comets will be more accessible to fans during the 2021-22 season thanks to several new arrangements with The Star and fellow members of the Kansas City media.
Sports Radio 810 WHB will carry advertisements promoting home matches at Cable Dahmer Arena and the team’s special January match at T-Mobile Center in downtown Kansas City.
A majority of Comets home games will be broadcast live on Sports Radio 810 or sister station ESPN Kansas City as part of the partnership. They will also carry a weekly feature on the Comets.
The Comets will also be appearing on local television: 38 The Spot will broadcast at least five of the Comets’ 13 home games this season. The broadcasts will feature play-by-play announcer Nick Vasos and color commentator Erik Bergrud. The station will also promote broadcast home games with various announcements and commercials.