Comets Pull Away from Knights in Second Half

(Independence, MO) The Syracuse Silver Knights make only one trip this season to the Independence Events Center and they are probably in no hurry to come back. After taking a 10-9 lead early in the 2nd half, the Comets poured on 7 unanswered goals for the 23-10 victory. Lucas Rodriguez, Byron Alvarez and Brian Harris had two goals apiece and Rodriguez and Ryan Junge led the team with five points.

Syracuse started the scoring in the first half when Jeffrey Hughes scored off a restart three minutes into the game, but Ryan Junge answered with a three pointer only 3 seconds later. Junge’s 3 point goal was the difference after the first quarter as the Comets held onto a 5-4 lead.

The Silver Knights have one of the most prolific offenses in the league and weren’t about to go down easy. Jeffrey Hughes and Cory Elenio worked the ball down the field and retook the lead for the Knights halfway through the 2nd quarter at 6-5. The Comets pressured the Syracuse goalkeeper with shot after shot. 6 minutes into the quarter Byron Alvarez worked his way down the left sideline and put a ball off the wall right to two waiting Comets. Lucas Rodriguez was able to put it away and the Comets regained the lead 7-6. Neto made the score 9-6 only a minute later and it seemed the Comets were pulling away for good, but Syracuse’s leading scorer, Slavisa Ubiparapovic scored a goal in his 4th straight game to bring the Knights within one at 9-8. That’s where the teams ended the half.

Andriy Buddny of Syracuse got things going quickly in the 2nd half and gave the Knights a temporary lead again at 10-9. That was the last time the Silver Knights came close to getting past Danny Waltman. The Comets offense woke up from that point on. The Comets outshot the Knights 18-6 in the second half and scored seven straight goals in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Brian Harris scored his second of the night on a penalty kill early in the 4th quarter. That was the Comets third straight game with shorthanded goal. Byron Alvarez finished the scoring off 10:23 into the game and gave the Comets the 23-10 victory.

The 5-3 Comets are on the road next week taking on Baltimore and Norfolk. They are back home again December 28th against rival Wichita Wings. That game is the 1st Annual Media Game. Fans can see their favorite TV, Radio & Newspaper personalities battle for soccer supremacy at halftime. For tickets and information call the Comets Office at 816-478-2255.

Boxscore can be found at http://pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1740487

Video highlights can be downloaded from the Comets at: http://www.cometsindoorsoccer.com/ext/video/Comets_12-04-11_1st_Goal

For more information about the Comets, Season Tickets or Group Outings please call Jeff Husted (816-478-7870) or email jhusted@cometsindoorsoccer.com.