Kansas City Comets return from 12-day break Thursday. Also, Sousa earns league honor
After a fast-paced start to the season, the Kansas City Comets are coming off a 12-day break that ends Thursday against the Monterrey Flash.
Several players took the opportunity to return home for several days to celebrate Christmas with their families.
Midfielder Lucas Sousa earned Week 3 Offensive Player of the Week recognition after contributing three goals and three assists in a 9-7 loss to the Milwaukee Wave and 7-4 win against the St. Louis Ambush.
“It shows that the hard work is paying off,” Sousa said. “I’m just glad to be there for my time and step up whenever we need it.”
The full team has reassembled ahead of a two-game stretch that starts Thursday when Monterrey visits Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence. Thursday’s inter-conference matchup will be the first meeting between these teams since the Mexican side returned to the MASL.
“They have experienced players, so it’s going to be a really good matchup,” said Comets player/coach Leo Gibson. “If we continue to play the way we’ve been playing, we have a good chance to win.”
The Comets finish out the 2022 calendar year with a New Year’s Eve visit to the St. Louis Ambush.
The Comets are running a holiday ticket special for Thursday’s matchup with Monterrey. Visit www.kccomets.com/holiday-ticket-special for more information.
Comets select three in College Draft
The Comets drafted three players with local ties at the inaugural MASL College Draft on Dec. 20.
The Comets drafted John Klein III, whose father played for the Comets in 1990-91, out of St. Louis University in the first round. The Comets also selected Arne Neufang in the second round and Jakib Jones out of Park University and Park Hill High School in the third round.
Klein was taken the following day in the MLS SuperDraft by St. Louis City SC. The Comets will wait to see if Klein makes it with the St. Louis MLS club or follow his father’s footsteps in indoor soccer.
Neufang and Jones have both spent time training with the Comets this season and now have hopes of signing a professional contract.
The Comets have exclusive MASL rights to all three of their draft picks until Dec. 1, 2023.