Riding three-match win streak, KC Comets are heating up as MASL postseason nears
With an eye on the Major Arena Soccer League postseason, the Kansas City Comets are riding a three-game winning streak after picking up a pair of close victories last week.
The Comets beat the St. Louis Ambush 8-7 Saturday night after a last-gasp KC equalizer forced overtime in front of 5,126 fans at Cable Dahmer Arena.
After giving up a four-goal lead to trail 7-6 in the fourth quarter, the Comets had their backs against the wall — they were on the verge of their fifth defeat on home turf this season. With less than two minutes to play, the Comets were down a man due to a holding penalty.
The clock continued ticking, with St. Louis facing minimal threats on goal. That is, until — on a final roll of the dice — Zach Reget possessed the ball along the boards and played it behind him to Robert Palmer.
Palmer controlled the ball before playing it off the wall, where Lucas Sousa reached around a defender to tap it in off the far post with just 3.7 seconds remaining.
Cable Dahmer Arena responded in pandemonium, but the Comets’ work was far from over. They still had to refocus for overtime, where they were a dreadful 0-4 this season.
It was a different story this time around. The special moment came 57 seconds into overtime. After being kept off the scoresheet all night, Reget took a pass from Nacho Flores on a restart and smashed it low into the far corner.
Reget described the moment as “exhilarating.”
“It was so loud in here,” said Reget, who raced around the arena shirtless after scoring the most important of his 27 goals this season. “I was so excited. This place erupted. ... A close game like that, maybe we lose if this place isn’t packed.”
The Comets view Saturday’s result as one point dropped but still took eight of nine available points during a congested week featuring three games in six days.
The Comets completed a Southern California sweep, with a road win over the San Diego Sockers on Sunday, Feb. 25 before Christian Anderaos scored in the final minute to beat the Empire Strykers 4-3 last Wednesday.
Victors in four of their last five, the Comets are starting to play well and find ways to win with the MASL playoffs on the horizon. The Comets currently hold the final playoff spot in the East.
“We’ve had another burst of confidence and energy,” Comets coach Stefan Stokic said. “It’s the way we’ve wanted to play all season long. We’re finally hitting our peak. I guess it’s never too late. I hope we can continue that momentum going into the playoffs.”
The Comets’ path to the playoffs is still a little tricky, but if they win their final three games, they will lock down a spot in the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs. It will be much easier said than done, of course, as those final three games will be challenging.
The Comets welcome Utica City to Cable Dahmer Arena on Sunday. KC visits St. Louis on March 17 and concludes the regular season at home on March 23 against Western Conference-leading San Diego. Tickets for the final two home matches are available at kccomets.com/tickets.