KC Comets overcome drama, controversial goals in tricky win over Empire Strykers

The Kansas City Comets navigated controversy and adversity on Jan. 30, regrouping after disputed calls to defeat the Empire Strykers 6-3 at Cable Dahmer Arena.

Kansas City believed two of Empire’s three goals should have been disallowed for handball offenses, including a late first-half score that gave the Strykers a 2-1 lead. The Comets challenged the play, but officials upheld the goal after inconclusive evidence upon video review.

Rather than letting the frustration linger, the Comets delivered their response on the turf.

Kansas City erupted for three unanswered goals in the third quarter to seize control of the match: Michael Lenis tied the game midway through the quarter. Lesia Thetsane put the Comets in front shortly after. And Rian Marques added his second goal of the night to make it 4-2.

Another disputed Empire goal late in the third cut the deficit to one, but the Comets were not shaken. Lenis scored early in the fourth quarter and Marques completed his hat trick to seal the victory.

“We can’t get rattled when calls don’t go our way,” defender Chad Vandegriffe said. “That’s another thing we’re working on as a team. (Vehemently protesting) is not going to change the call. We can move on and hopefully get some calls later in the game.”

Vandegriffe returned to the lineup after missing last weekend’s loss at Empire with an injury, joining Guerrero Pino back on the turf. Kansas City had allowed 10 goals in the previous meeting without the pair.

“It makes a huge difference,” Comets head coach Stefan Stokic said. “You’re talking about veterans who have been in this league for over 10 years. Even though we were missing them in the previous game, I expected others to step up more, to be honest, but having those guys back is huge for us.”

Empire’s style presents a unique challenge as the club prioritizes possession and uses its goalkeeper as an extra attacker, forcing extended periods of defense for the opposition. Vandegriffe, the reigning MASL Defender of the Year and league’s all-time leading shot blocker, emphasized patience and willingness to do undesirable work against a team like the Strykers.

“There might be shifts you have where you play defense the whole time, and you have to be okay with that,” Vandegriffe said. “You have to do what’s right for the team, and if that means you’re playing defense for an entire shift, then you have to do it because it’s all for the team.”

Vandegriffe added that everyone was on the same page in the Comets’ most recent victory and adjusted well to all the alterations Empire threw their way.

After losing back-to-back games on home turf, the Comets have since won back-to-back at home as they look to reestablish Cable Dahmer Arena as the top fortress in the MASL.

“We want teams to come here and feel like it’s a loss already,” Vandegriffe said. “This is our house, and we want them to feel that.”

The Comets visit the Milwaukee Wave for a morning game on Feb. 10 before returning home to face the San Diego Sockers on Feb. 14.