Game Preview: Comets Host Milwaukee for Two Weekend Games
February 23, 2012 - Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Kansas City Comets News Release
INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI - The Comets late-season momentum continued with a hard-fought win over Rochester last Sunday. Now the team hosts Milwaukee for a two-game set this Friday and Sunday knowing they will play the same Wave squad in the Central Division Finals in two weeks. Kansas City soccer legend Gino Schiraldi will have his #2 jersey retired at halftime of the game Friday night as the team celebrates the 30th birthday of the Comets franchise.
Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Syracuse Wednesday night, finally clinching the Central Division Championship. Despite the late drama over who would ultimately win the division, the playoff match-up has been set for nearly two weeks. The Comets will host Game 1 of the Central Division Finals on Friday, March 9 at 7:35pm with Milwaukee hosting Game 2 on March 11. If the teams split the first two games, Game 3 would be a 15-minute mini-game immediately following Game 2 to determine the representative in the MISL Championship Series. Playoff tickets are on sale now at www.cometsindoorsoccer.com.
The Comets have defeated each of the two division champs in the current five-game winning streak, but perhaps no victory in that stretch was more impressive than Sunday's 13-11 defeat of Rochester. The Comets went into the game without three key players, including Vahid Assadpour who is among the top 10 scorers in the league. They lost two more players to minor injuries during the course of the game and yet withstood three Lancers goals in the final six minutes to win by two points.
Midfielder Geison leads the MISL in scoring with 78 points on the year, 11 ahead of Rochester's Mauricio Salles in second place. Geison currently sports a 19-game point-scoring streak.
The Wave went into Wednesday's game against Syracuse with a fourth straight opportunity to clinch the Central Division outright. The previous three chances had ended in defeat and with the Comets continuing to win, the Wave's magic number held steady at one. The win against Syracuse did not come easily, with Milwaukee holding a tenuous 13-12 lead heading into the final period. Strong defense and goalkeeper play held Syracuse scoreless in the fourth quarter and the Wave won 15-12.
The highlight of Friday night's 30th birthday celebration will be the jersey retirement of Comets legend Gino Schiraldi. "The Bull" played 10 seasons with the Comets and is the team's all-time leader in career games played with over 400. He was twice named Defensive Player of the Year in the MISL and ranks 9th all time with over 500 career blocks. Gino is still very involved in the KC metro soccer community, currently serving as Executive Director of the KC Comets competitive youth soccer club.
Sunday marks the regular-season finale for the 2011-12 Comets season and the team will recognize the support received all year with "Fan Appreciation Day."
For more information about the Comets, Season Tickets or Group Outings please call Nick McCabe (nmccabe@kcarenasports.com) or Jeff Husted ( jhusted@cometsindoorsoccer.com ).
Comets Indoor Soccer: The Major Indoor Soccer League returned to Kansas City in 2010 as the Comets, one of the most storied & iconic sports franchises in Kansas City's history, began a new era at the Independence Events Center in Independence, MO.
Major Indoor Soccer League Stories from February 23, 2012
- Lancers Clinch Playoff Spot with 20-17 Overtime Win Over Wichita - Rochester Lancers
- Milwaukee Wave Game Preview for February 24th & Feb 26th - Milwaukee Wave
- Game Preview: Silver Knights Face Wings in Penultimate Game - Syracuse Silver Knights
- Building a Future - Norfolk SharX
- Game Preview: Comets Host Milwaukee for Two Weekend Games - Kansas City Comets
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