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MASL Milwaukee Wave

Wave Dampen Comets in Overtime Thriller Sunday Afternoon in Milwaukee

January 29, 2023 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Milwaukee Wave News Release


For the fourth time this season, the Seven-Time Champion Milwaukee Wave took on the Kansas City Comets. Before today's game, the Wave was 1-1-1 in their Comets history this season. While there was no official theme of this game, the black and yellow crowds of Wave fans declared it to be "Huff the Stuff Day," sporting posters and jerseys full of famous catchphrases of the defender.

Final Score: Milwaukee Wave 9, Kansas City Comets 8

Today's game started with crickets in the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena as the Comets scored. In true Derek Huffman fashion, he retaliated tying it right back up 1-1 in the first quarter. Lee snuck in his second KC Comets goal this game, on a free kick. Alex Sanchez scored his first home goal for the Wave tying it back up 2-2, at the end of the first quarter. Ian Bennett continued to build his legacy, stretching his streak to 40 consecutive games with a goal. Seconds after, Lawal joined the "first home game goal" club scoring his first on the black turf this season. Huffman had to further get his point across by slamming one more in, confirming the lead, 5-2, Wave. Ian Bennett made his second look easy as he snuck it in leaving no time for the Comet's keeper to react. Lawal was seen making the Black turf his home, racing from corner to corner with intensity. Within the final minutes of the half, Comet players were making risky artistic moves to no avail. The half ended 6-2, Wave.

Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero's note to his team was, "We got to stay disciplined and stick to the game plan." The Wave was up by four points at halftime and Coach Oliviero expected the team to play through the second half as if they were losing. A lead this large means nothing on a field this small. The Wave players needed to stay on their toes to ensure the end result.

Like the first half, the third quarter started with crickets due to Marques on the Comets, he scored two, dampening the Wave lead, 6-4, Wave. Ian Bennett was not having that and hiked the lead back up 7-4, Wave. After the work of Marques, Nacho, and Lee, the Kansas City Comets tied up the game once again 7-7, end of the third quarter. With little scoring movement in the top of the fourth, Lawal broke the silence with a lucky touch toward the goal that rolled its way in, with KC goalkeeper, Neto, out of position. The end score was 8-8, indicating an overtime period. It only took the wave 38 seconds to score the game-winning goal by Mario Alvarez.

The Wave has had a trend of losing momentum in the second half, Coach Oliviero said, "This is something we're always working on. We really need to start playing the full game. We've had a few close calls, but tonight we came through". In preparation for their next meeting, Coach said that defense will be the primary focus. "We know their strengths and weaknesses as they know ours, it comes down to defense in the end.".

The Player of the Game was awarded to Mario Alvarez because of his final push that led the Milwaukee Wave to win. "We let it slide a little in the second half, but after that eighth goal and the energy of the crowd... let's go!".

The Wave will see the Comets for a fifth time this season on Sunday, February 26th at Kansas City with a 4:05 CT kickoff. Their current record is 2-2, two wins each on their home turf.

Next Sunday, February 5th, the Wave will host Utica City on the black turf of UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena at 1:05pm for the Princesses & Superheroes game.

Tickets are available atMilwaukeeWave.comor the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Box Office before kick-off for future home games.

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