COMETS GET FLORIDA ROAD TRIP OFF TO GOOD START

Anthony Grant leads the way with his second hat trick of the season

KISSIMMEE, Florida (Mar. 16, 2019) – The Kansas City Comets won their first game of their weekend road trip and kept their lead in the tight race for playoff position in the South Central Division. Their 9-7 win keeps them a game ahead of the St Louis Ambush for the final spot in the postseason. Kansas City forward Anthony Grant led all scorers with three goals and an assist.

The Comets wasted no time in setting the tone for tonight’s match. Captain Bryan Perez opened up the scoring nearly three minutes into the opening quarter. Former Comet and current SeaWolves forward Elmo Neto briefly tied the game midway through the quarter, but Grant and Leo Gibson each scored their first goals of the net to close the period and give the Comets a 3-2 lead.

Somewhat shell-shocked, the SeaWolves seemingly fell into a defensive stance in the second quarter. Kansas City was fine to simply maintain possession and save their legs. Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Flores and James Togbah were able to crack through the defensive shell and open up a three-goal lead for Kansas City at the halftime break.

In a curious moment, SeaWolves captain Joshio Sandoval earned a red card midway through the second period. As the ball was tied up in the corner, Kansas City’s Grant had the ball held up and Sandoval leaned in, seemingly to try and pull the ball away. Instead he leaned in and bit Grant on the arm and was immediately ejected from the match.  

Kansas City set out to put the game away early in the second half. After a SeaWolves foul, defender Kevin Ellis quickly restarted the play with a pass to Bryan Perez who dished off to a wide-open Grant for the score. Grant completed his hat trick late in the third period with an assist from Ellis and James Togbah scored his league leading seventh power play goal in between.

Knowing they have to play a second game in less than 24 hours, the Comets took a very defensive stance throughout the fourth quarter. Grant added an assist to his night when he cut across the middle then sent an easy pass to Gibson for the final goal.

Orlando attempted a comeback, but the play of the Comets defense and goalkeeper Mark Saxby was able to turn away nearly every chance the SeaWolves could muster. Despite giving up three goals in the fourth quarter, the Comets were able to hold on for the 9-7 victory.

The Comets head down the road for an afternoon match against the Florida Tropics tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. CT. A win could give the Comets a two-game lead in the South Central playoff hunt. The match will be streamed live on MASLtv and shown locally in Kansas City on KMCI-TV, 38 The Spot

MASL Match Report
Match: Orlando SeaWolves vs Kansas City Comets
Date: March 16, 2019
Venue: Silver Spurs Arena, Kissimmee, FL
Kickoff: 6:09 p.m. CT / 7:09 p.m. ET

Scoring Summary