Comets Hold Off Mustangs Late, Jump Into First

The Missouri Comets looked like they'd cruse into first place in the MASL's Central Division as they headed into the fourth quarter with a 5-1 lead over the Chicago Mustangs. The Comets had done a good job through three quarters of shutting down the Mustang offense, particularly Bofo Bautista, but the fourth quarter saw the Mustangs stage a big comeback. It wasn't enough though as the Comets were able to hold off the Mustangs just enough to survive for a 7-6 win.

The first quarter saw a number of chances for both teams with the Comes Boris Pardo probably being the busier of the two goalkeepers with the saves he needed to make. Late in the quarter though the Comets jumped on the board as Kevin Ten Eyck scored with less than a minute left in the quarter as the Comets ended up 1-0.

The second saw the Mustangs quickly equalize through Wilo Martinez to tie the game at one. The tie game didn't last as long this time as just four minutes into the period Vahid Assadpour scored off an assist by John Sosa off a restart. Near the midpoint of the quarter the Comets extended their lead to 3-1 as Stefan Stokic scored off an assist from Assadpour. Once again in the final minute of the quarter the Comets extended their lead to 4-1 as Leo Gibson scored off an assist from Max Touloute.

The third quarter again saw a tight quarter with only one goal scored as Robert Palmer just under six minutes into the quarter to make it 5-1 Comets as the two teams headed into the final period. The fourth quarter though belonged to Bofo as he almost single-handedly brought the Mustangs back. Just over four minutes in he beat Pardo with a nice finish to make it 5-2 to the Comets. Missouri responded less than a minute later as Ramon Palmer turned in a back post shot by Gibson to make it 6-2 for Missouri. Near the midpoint the Mustangs again pulled a goal back, this time Bofo set up Trajche Lostovski to cut the lead to just 6-3 with over half the quarter left to play. The Comets began pushing the game again looking for another goal and made it 7-3 off a restart goal again as this time Sosa set up Lucas Rodriguez for the finish. Less than a minute later the Mustangs were back within three goals as the Comets got caught up field countering leaving Bofo basically all alone in the Comets end. Bofo brought the ball down and slotted it past Pardo to make it 7-4. Shortly after the Mustangs went to the sixth attacker looking to close the lead further. Bofo did just that with just under two and a half minutes left off a restart being Pardo with the help of a deflection off Gibson.  The Comets held off the Mustangs but struggled to clear their end as time ticked away and with less than a minute left Bofo scored his fourth goal of the quarter to bring the Mustangs within one goal. The Mustangs continued to have efforts over the final 50 seconds but the Comets defense held out enough to preserve the victory and move the Comets ahead of the Mustangs in the Central division and also give the Comets the tie breaker for the season with the Mustangs, going 2-1 against the Chicago side.