Comets Fall to Omaha

The Comets’ improved defense came at a price as they failed to muster any sort of offense in a pivotal match Sunday afternoon at the Independence Events Center against the visiting Vipers, falling to the visitors from Omaha 6-4. The six points by the Vipers were the least amount of points allowed by the Comets all season long, but the Vipers stifled the Comets offense all day long, holding the team to just four points, the team’s lowest scoring output of the season.

The 6-4 final score is the least amount of points scored in a game so far this year in the MISL.

A victory over Omaha would have pulled the Comets into a tie for third place with the Vipers, instead, the Comets fall to 3-7, two full games behind Omaha (now 5-5) in the standings.

The first period belonged to Omaha, with Mauricio Hernandez, then Ryan Junge scoring goals in the game’s first seven minutes. The first period would end that way, with Omaha leading 4-0.

The only points in the 2^nd period belonged to the Comets’ Vahid Assadpour, scoring his 5^th goal of the season with an assist by Byron Alvarez. The Comets couldn’t capitalize on a huge opportunity in the period when they had a two man advantage after consecutive misconduct and holding penalties by the Vipers. The inability to take advantage of power play opportunities has plagued the Comets all year long. Halftime score: Vipers 4, Comets 2.

After a scoreless 3^rd period, the Vipers extended their lead to 6-2 after Junge’s second goal of the game at the 2:50 mark. After pulling keeper, Danny Waltman, and inserting Vahid Assadpour as a sixth attacker with three minutes left in the game, Leo Gibson scored with an assist from Lucas Rodriguez with 1:50 to play. That would be as close as the Comets would get, falling to the Vipers 6-4.

The Comets next game is Saturday, January 22^nd at 7:35p at the Independence Events Center against the Baltimore Blast. The Comets will then travel to Omaha the next day to take on the Vipers at 3:05p.

Comets Retro Night: Some former, familiar Comets greats will be honored at halftime of the Friday, January 28^th game against the Milwaukee Wave at the IEC. Alan Mayer, Gino Schiraldi, Doug Neely, Ted, Eck, Gordon Hill and many other former Comets players will be on hand. Comets players will be playing in replica jerseys of the iconic rainbow-striped uniforms worn during the team’s inaugural 1981-1982 season. The Comets are encouraging all long-time Comets fans to break out their old Comets gear and wear it to the game

Tickets: Comet single game tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com. Groups and youth soccer teams can also “Play Like the Comets” on the field before every Comets home game. For Comets group tickets, call 816-478-BALL. For all the latest Comets news and information, visit www.cometsindoorsoccer.com.

Link to Box Score: http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1443317