KC Comets play final regular-season games this weekend. Then, it’s MASL playoffs time
The Kansas City Comets split a pair of matches last weekend against teams fighting to make the playoffs. And now it’s time for the final weekend of the Major Arena Soccer League season ... and after that, the race for a championship reaches full-speed.
Here’s what’s going on with the Comets (13-7) this week as the postseason approaches.
Weekend recap
The Comets won 7-3 at home Saturday against the St. Louis Ambush before falling 8-6 at the Milwaukee Wave Sunday.
The Comets had already clinched first place in the Central Division thanks to an earlier loss by the Dallas Sidekicks. With the Ambush still going all-out in hopes of securing a playoff berth of their own, the Comets out-shot the Ambush 41-18 and scored four goals in a row to cement the victory.
Playing their second game in less than 24 hours, the Comets went with a young and experienced lineup in Milwaukee. Three players made their debuts Sunday: Junior Kazeem, Mako, Makoanyane and Eduardo “Lalo” Alonso. A fourth, Milos Vucic, played just his second game after debuting the night before.
Player/coach Leo Gibson, the oldest player on the team, played as much as any rookie Sunday and scored a pair of goals. But by the time the Comets got on the board, the Wave led 5-0.
“With the back-to-back games, in less than 24 hours, close to the playoffs, I think the weekend was good,” Gibson explained. “It was tremendous progress on (the rookies’) part. They did really good. It is a different game for them, and they were able to weather it and do well.”
Alumni honored
The Comets wore retro-inspired jerseys against the Ambush last weekend and honored a large contingent of alumni at halftime.
Those honored on the field Saturday included Gino Schiraldi, Kim Roentved and Enzo DiPede, as well as more recent players like Brian Harris and Byron Alvarez and a couple-dozen other former players and staff.
The Comets also paid homage to the Kansas City Attack earlier this season as part of their season-long 40th anniversary celebration.
Next up: Ambush doubleheader
The Comets wrap up their regular season with a home-and-home series against the Ambush this weekend. They’re at St. Louis on Saturday and home against the Ambush on Sunday at Cable Dahmer Arena.
Kickoff for the latter match is 4 p.m. It’s the Comets’ annual Military Appreciation Game, so the Comets will wear special military-themed jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. Proceeds benefit Team Fidelis, a KC-based charity aimed at preventing suicide among veterans, active service members and their families.
The Comets are also offering a special buy-one-get-one-free ticket offer for all veterans and those currently serving. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Comets at 888-9-COMETS.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 12:29 PM.