Comets Fall in OT

The Missouri Comets lost their first game of the season tonight at home against the Baltimore Blast 10-8 in overtime. The Blast started the game off getting the first goal, 2:16 into the game. After a wall pass, there was a bit of a scramble in the box. In the end, Max Ferdinand touched the ball to Pfah Myers who was able to poke the ball past Danny Waltman and into the net to give the Blast the early lead. After the first goal, the Comets really pushed the game, and both Vahid Assadpour and Geison both forced kick saves out of Sagu in the Baltimore net. Late on in the half, the cards started to come out. First Pat Healey received a blue card for boarding with 10:12 gone in the quarter putting Missouri on the power play.

Unfortunately only 30 seconds into the power play, on a break by the Blast, Lucas Rodriguez picked up a blue card for tripping putting the game at 4v4. during the time the game was 4v4, the game really opened up and Missouri found an equalizer about 30 seconds in the 4v4 game. Leo Gibson won the ball in the Comets end and dribbled into the open space, he went at his defender going towards the middle then cut back outside on his defender, leaving him stranded and giving Gibson the space to shoot. Gibson's shot beat Sagu to the far post, tying the game.

The tie game didn't last long though, as the Blast found a goal while they were on their part of the power play. After the Blast penalty ended, they had too much possession in the Comets half. Adauto Neto found Mike Lookingland, who fired a shot that made it past Danny Waltman who appeared to be shielded from being able to see the shot.

Baltimore added to that lead before the first quarter was over. With the Comets pushing to get back into the game, they had a few chances to get back in, but weren't able to finish. Sure enough with them pushed forward, the Blast were able to counter with Ferdinand and Machel Millwood. The two had a 2 on 1 break. Millwood fed Ferdinand who beat an on rushing Waltman and fired the ball into the empty net, make it 6-2 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter, the Comets pulled themselves back within a goal on a free kick after the Blast had played the ball out of bounds. From the top of the box, Assadpour fired a blast that beat the wall and Sagu make it 6-4. As the second quarter wore on, Waltman was called on to make a few saves, the biggest in a 1v1 situation after a header from Brian Harris landed at the feet of Myers, 1v1 with Waltman. A nice kick save though kept Missouri within a goal. Unfortunately after 8:30 of the second, Matt Watson scored that goal. Watson dribbled across the top of the box, avoiding a few challenges and firing a shot past Waltman.

The third quarter became a physical and defensive battle, inside the first few minutes, Scott Buete ended up getting his jersey torn. The Comets were able to create a few chances, but Sagu was able to keep them out of the net. As the quarter wore on though, the Blast started to control the game. The entire defense for the Comets had to come up over the course of the half, Waltman had to make a few saves, and he got assistance from his defense, including Harris who saved one off the line after Waltman was beat. The Blast though did a very good job of shutting down the Comets attack, giving them possession, but not giving them much that they could do with it.

In the fourth quarter the Comets really started to push to get back into the game. They were assisted by a blue card for tripping to JT Noone. With the man advantage, Missouri took advantage of it. On the power play, Baltimore got caught up field on a counter and it allowed the Comets to take advantage. Rodriguez led the attack with Byron Alvarez and Geison. Rodriguez fed Alvarez who fired a shot on goal that Sagu saved, the rebound went into the air, Rodriguez headed the ball to Geison, whose bicycle kick beat Sagu to the far post. Geison didn't make great connection, but it was enough to pull Missouri back with in a goal. Three minutes after Geison's goal, the Comets were level. The play started when Ryan Junge intercepted a pass. The ball went to Harris who raced up the field and played the ball to an open John Sosa. Sosa fired a shot that was going wide of the goal, but Alvarez was making a back post run and knocked the ball in tying the game. The Comets continued to pressure, and looked the more likely team to find a winner in regulation, but the post and Sagu saved Baltimore.

The two teams went to overtime and Missouri continued to be the stronger side, but Missouri couldn't find a winner. Sagu also got some help from his defense as on one play the ball got played to the back post for Tanner Hunjak who had an open net. but As Hunjak's header was going on, a Baltimore defender got his foot up knocking the ball out. The Comets ended up losing Gibson during the overtime on a foul early in the period.

With just over 6 minutes left in over time, Baltimore got their winner. Once again on a scramble in front of goal, the post and Waltman both made saves, but Noone knocked the ball home giving the Blast the win. The Comets head back into action on Sunday afternoon against the Milwaukee Wave.