MASL: Comets zap Ambush in I-70 Cup series finale
- MASL
- Feb 17
- 4 min read
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NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
BY KANSAS CITY COMETS COMMUNICATIONS
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The I-70 series ended tilted in Kansas City’s way.
The Kansas City Comets had a gritty performance, but provided the firepower when needed as they took an 8-5 victory against the St. Louis Ambush on Sunday at Cable Dahmer Arena.
With retired players from both sides of the I-70 Series on hand for Retro Night, the Comets (10-1-2) protected their home and raised the I-70 Series Cup. Dawning jerseys from as far back as the 1990-91 season, the Comets ended the season series on a good note, taking the series 4-1 against the Ambush.
The two franchises are located just over 240 miles apart along the I-70 corridor in the heartland of the U.S.
The Comets began the game with a bang, as they scored three goals in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Henry Ramirez started the scoring spree with a fantastic volley, striking the ball sweetly into the top corner after Zach Reget sent a ball off the board. The Comets quicky added another pair when Christian Anderaos and Rian Marques put KC ahead 3-0.
Suddenly, the Comets’ offense faced major struggles. They went on a scoring drought that lasted all the way until the fourth quarter. In that time, St. Louis (4-10-1) scored four straight to jump in front 4-3.
Mohamed Ndiaye, James Thomas, William Eskay and Duduca Carvalho all scored in the run with Carvalho also adding an assist for the Ambush during the four-goal outburst.
Shortly after that point, Duduca Carvalho's strike early in the fourth quarter put the Ambush ahead at 5-4, the Comets found their footing once again after a two-minute penalty. Despite missing the shootout opportunity, KC found the equalizer when Marques served a ball for Reget who fired one home and to level the score 4-4.
After 9:02 in the fourth, Leo Acosta scored KC’s go-ahead goal on a swift counterattack. Nacho Flores added to the Comets' lead, scoring KC’s third straight and cap a 3-0 run and put the Comets up 6-4.
The Ambush brought in a sixth attacker and got back in the game when Dylan Hundelt’s goal inside the final minute made it 6-5. The Comets answered again, this time concluding the game with a pair of goals from Marques (14:24) and Michael Lenis (14:38) and push the final distance to a three-goal win.
The Comets have now won five straight over the past month, moving into second place for the time being with 32 points. If third-place San Diego defeats first-place Chihuahua this evening, the Comets will drop to third.
“When you play against a team five times, it becomes repetition,” Comets coach Stefan Stokic said. “It becomes tough to play against the same guys. I think our quality was not good enough in the offensive third; our execution was not good enough.”
Reigning MASL Defender of the Week, Guerrero Pino, was critical once again. He had five blocks in tonight’s win while Chad Vandegriffe followed with three blocks.
The Comets will visit the Harrisburg Heat next weekend for a back-to-back series before returning to home to face Utica City FC on March 1.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st – KC Ramirez (Reget) 2:34; KC Anderaos (Acosta) 4:29; KC Marques 6:31. Penalties – None.
2nd – STL Ndiaye (Will Eskay) 6:37; STL Thomas (Carvalho) 14:22. Penalties – None.
3rd – STL Will Eskay (Chakounte) 9:51. Penalties — None.
4th – STL Carvalho (Almeida) 1:01; KC Reget (Marques) 1:39 PP; KC Acosta (Flores) 9:02; KC Flores (Pino) 13:31; STL Hundelt (Almeida) 14:24; KC Marques 14:38 SO; KC Lenis (Anderaos) 14:57. Penalties – STL Nyamsi (bc - holding) 1:13; STL Carvalho (yc- dissent) 13:08; KC Pino (yc - dissent) 14:22; STL Will Eskay (bc - holding) 14:39.
Power Play – Comets 1/2, St. Louis 0/0
Penalty Minutes – Comets 5, St. Louis 9
Fouls – Comets 21, St. Louis 9
Shots – Comets 30, St. Louis 30
Blocks - Comets 14, St. Louis 7
Attendance - 4,358
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