COMETS TOP SIDEKICKS 8-5 TO OPEN 2021 CAMPAIGN
DALLAS, TX. – The Kansas City Comets (1-0) used a hat trick from Kevin Ellis and a pair of goals from Lucas Sousa to come from behind and defeat the Dallas Sidekicks (0-1) 8-5 to open the 2021 MASL regular season.
Dallas started the game in complete control as they rallied for three straight goals to begin the contest. The first came less than a minute into the game and though credited to Lipe Andrade, was technically an own goal as it rebounded off a Comets defender. From there, Felipe De Sousa got a pair of goals past Kansas City’s goalkeeper Nicolau Neto to give Dallas a 3-0 lead with 4:43 to go in the opening quarter.
The Comets first goal of the match came off the foot of Kyle McLagan when he sent a rocket past Juan Gamboa into the upper left-hand corner of the goal with 4:22 remaining in the first. Kansas City would cut the deficit to one after Rian Marquez slid a goal along the ground into the lower left corner making it a 3-2 Dallas lead after one quarter of play.
After Kansas City’s Lucas Sousa was sent to the penalty box putting Dallas on a two-minute power play, the Comets defense killed the penalty and took advantage of Sousa coming out of the penalty box. Already past the Dallas defenders, he took the ball on a breakaway and beat Gamboa to tie the game 3-3 headed to the locker room at half time.
Much like the second quarter, only one goal was scored in the third, and it was for the Comets. Kansas City put a sustained pressure on the Dallas defense for two consecutive minutes before Ramone Palmer found a crease and pounded the ball into the back of the net to put the Comets up 4-3 headed to the final quarter of play.
Kansas City quickly expanded their lead to two goals just 12 seconds into the fourth quarter on an unassisted goal by Ellis, the first of three he would score in the frame. With 11:13 to play Dallas cut the Comets lead to one when TJ Nelson connected with Freddy Moojen for a Sidekicks goal. Sousa knocked one in for Kansas City less than a minute later and approaching the halfway point of the fourth quarter, the Comets led 6-4.
Kansas City increased their margin to three goals on Ellis’ second of the game, but less than a minute later Dallas was on the power play again. Matt Lewis was shown a blue card for tripping and Andrade took less than 30 seconds to take advantage and brought Dallas within two at 7-5 with 7:02 to go.
After killing off another Sidekicks power play combined with a Dallas sixth attacker, Ellis found an empty net to complete his hat trick and close out scoring with just eight seconds left to play.
Kansas City will continue their season opening road trip next weekend with a pair of games in Florida and one in St. Louis before returning to Cable Dahmer Arena to welcome the Tacoma Stars on January 22. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by calling (888) 9-COMETS.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st – DAL Andrade 0:59; DAL De Sousa 3:24; DAL De Sousa (Piedra) 10:17; KC McLagan 10:38; KC Marquez 12:57. Penalties – DAL Bench blue card (too many men) 14:11; DAL Jones blue card (charging) 14:49.
2nd – KC Sousa 12:44. Penalties – KC Sousa blue card (pushing) 10:34.
3rd – KC Palmer 7:04. Penalties – none.
4th – KC Ellis 0:12; DAL Moojen (Nelson) 3:41; KC Sousa 4:53; KC Ellis 6:04; DAL Andrade 7:58 PP; KC Ellis 14:51 vs 6 attackers. Penalties – KC Lewis blue card (tripping) 7:22; KC McDonald blue card (reckless tackle) 11:13.
Shots – Kansas City 9-4-6-7 (26); Dallas 3-6-3-13 (23)