Comets Clinch Playoff Berth with Win Over Milwaukee
Published on February 12, 2012 under Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Kansas City Comets News Release
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - The Missouri Comets withstood a furious rally to beat the Milwaukee Wave 17-14 Sunday afternoon at U.S. Cellular Arena. The team's fourth straight win officially puts the Comets into the playoffs where they will face Milwaukee in the MISL Semifinals.
The Wave trailed the entire second half but closed the gap to one point at 15-14 with a sixth-attacker goal 13:34 into the fourth quarter. The Comets withstood a few other Milwaukee chances in the final moments and sealed the victory when Vahid Assadpour headed in his third goal of the day with seven seconds remaining. The win was the first in four tries against the Wave this season and improves the Comets record to 13-8.
Milwaukee controlled play in the opening minutes and took a 2-0 lead on a power play goal from Giuliano Oliviero five minutes into the first quarter. Goalkeeper Danny Waltman kept the deficit at two with several great saves in the first 10 minutes before the Comets got a power play goal of their own from Lucas Rodriguez.
The Wave countered immediately with back-to-back goals less than 15 seconds apart from Pablo and Nicolas Perera and Milwaukee led 6-2. The lead was short-lived as the Comets exploded for nine straight points in a 15-minute stretch to close the first quarter and last well into the second. Ryan Junge, Geison, Neto and Vahid Assadpour each had goals in the run that put the Comets up 11-6. Geison's was good for three points on a hard blast from the right side.
Perera for Milwaukee and Assadpour for the Comets would each tally their second goal of the game late in the quarter and the Comets took a 13-8 lead into halftime.
The Wave scored the only goal of the third quarter as Evan McNeley drew Milwaukee closer at 13-10. John Sosa got the first Comets goal of the second half two minutes into the fourth quarter on a great feed from Assadpour, who was the game's leading scorer with seven points. The lead was 15-10 but much of the fourth period remained.
Hewerton, who tallied two goals and two assists for the game, got Milwaukee back to within three with a chip shot over a charging Waltman. The Comets then made several big defensive plays down the stretch. Brian Harris got a key block with 4:30 to play and Waltman off his line. Waltman denied a point-blank Marco Terminesi shot two minutes later and the Comets held on late.
Sunday's result set half of the MISL playoff bracket. The Central Division champion Wave will face the runner-up Comets in a two-game series, with a 15-minute mini-game to follow Game 2 if necessary. The Comets will host Game 1 at the Independence Events Center Friday, March 9 at 7:35pm. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday, March 11 in Milwaukee. The winner of the series will advance to the MISL Finals to face a team from the Eastern Division.
The Comets finish the regular season with three straight home games, beginning with a match against Rochester next Sunday, February 19. It will be a "Day of Giving" at the Independence Events Center as numerous charities supported by the Comets will be collecting donations. Kickoff is set for 3:10pm.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 12, 2012
- Comets Clinch Playoff Berth with Win Over Milwaukee - Kansas City Comets
- Wave Battle Back But Fall Short in Loss Against Comets - Milwaukee Wave
- Silver Knights Take Final Thruway Joust - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Lancers Fall at Home to Syracuse - Rochester Lancers
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