KC’s only pro player/coach had a great reason for missing two big Comets road games

Missing several key players proved too much to overcome last weekend as the Kansas City Comets finished a tough road trip with a pair of losses in California.

Facing two of the top teams in the Major Arena Soccer League didn’t help matters, but Comets player/coach Leo Gibson had a good reason for missing the journey west: He was with his wife for the birth of their child.

Comets managing partner Brian Budzinski encouraged Gibson to be at his wife’s side, telling him, “Family is always first.”

Here’s what’s going on with the Comets (10-4-1) this week.

Game recaps

On Friday, the MASL West Division-leading San Diego Sockers beat the Comets 8-3. Two days later, the second-place Ontario Fury beat KC 8-5. But the shorthanded Comets held leads in both games.

In San Diego, the Comets were leading until right before halftime, when the Sockers leveled it 2-2. But then the hosts scored six straight second-half goals before the Comets could pull one back.

“I don’t think Friday’s game was a good showcase for our league,” Budzinski said, “and I’m a little disappointed in that.”

With a quick turnaround, and facing a rested Ontario side despite missing even more players than they had on Friday, the Comets activated assistant head coach Stefan Stokic as an emergency defender for Sunday’s game at Ontario.

With Stokic needing to play, Budzinksi coached the team. And the Comets again came out strong, twice taking a two-goal lead in the first half and leading 4-3 at halftime. But once play resumed, the Fury scored three decisive goals in a 43-second span.

“You know, it was a tough weekend as far as results are concerned,” Budzinski acknowledged. “But I think it was a very good trip to understand where we’re at roster-wise.

“We pride ourselves on having one of the deepest teams in the league. For us to be missing four or five players, having to play with 11 players on Sunday and against two really strong opponents, we felt like we showed well for large portions of those games.”

Duke in the mix?

The Comets hope to have some reinforcements coming off the injured list soon ... but a recent addition could also make his debut the next time they take the field.

Signed last week, newcomer Christian Duke has been training hard to learn the nuances of indoor soccer. And he already has a wealth of knowledge from his time with Sporting KC’s second team and the University of San Diego.

Summoned to Major League Soccer via the 2013 MLS Supplemental Draft, Duke spent time on loan with Orlando City and Oklahoma City in the USL Championship before eventually signing with Sporting KC’s second team, then known as Swope Park Rangers. Duke was the Rangers’ captain, moved to Orange County for two seasons, then returned to play for the renamed Sporting KC II squad.

After retiring from outdoor soccer, Duke was contacted by the Comets. And now the stage is set for the next chapter of his career, with the MASL club for which his father also once played, no less.

“Being away from the game for a month was long enough,” Duke said. “I’m excited to be back. I have a lot to learn. but it is a great group of guys and hopefully I can pick it up quickly. I’m going to ask a lot of questions.”

Local indoor-soccer fans will surely recall Duke’s dad, Chris, who played for the Comets and Attack.

“It is a true honor,” he said. “When I told my mom that Coach Leo had approached me, my mom got out all of my dad’s old jerseys for me to see. Following in my dad’s footsteps — he wore number 20 and I am going to wear number 20 — it is really special for me.”

Next up: Dallas

This weekend, the Comets face the Dallas Sidekicks in a home-and-home series. The Comets are in first place in the Central Division and Dallas, at 8-7-1, is eight points back in second.

Kansas City plays host to Dallas on Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m., before heading south for a rematch on Sunday. Friday night is also the Comets’ annual Celebrity Halftime Game, wherein KC sports, media and entertainment folks will play a just-for-fun match during the halftime break.

Tickets for the home game at Cable Dahmer Arena can be purchased at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more can get discounted tickets by calling the Comets at 888-9-COMETS.

This story was originally published March 1, 2022 at 6:03 PM.