REGET'S REGALIA

Not so long ago, Zach Reget faced the most difficult decision of his career. You might call it indoor soccer's ultimate no-win situation involving club and country.

He could play for the U.S. Futsal National Team at the Concacaf Futsal Championship in Nicaragua or remain with the Kansas City Comets to compete in the Major Arena Soccer League playoffs.

Damned if he did, damned if he didn't.

Reget decided to turn down the invitation from USA head coach Hewerton Moreira, to stay and perform with the Comets in the playoffs.

"In regard to family, probably career-wise, it definitely was my hardest decision so far," he said.

"It was not easy and whichever way I pulled I was going to hurt my heart a little bit. So, either way, it's definitely an emotional topic and was not an easy one to make a decision. I had some time to make the decision. There's a lot of thought, a lot of conversations that took place. A lot of stress.

"There was no wrong choice or right choice. It's just I got to make a choice. I love my teammates on the national team. My heart definitely breaks a lot watching them. It's definitely not easy.

"You do two things in life and that's the national team and the Comets. It sucks that they have to conflict. I'm hoping that maybe this situation will shed more conversations for people in charge to maybe work together so these aren't decisions players have to make."

Of course, the Comets were happy the 28-year-old forward decided to stay. He was an important reason why the team reached the Eastern Division finals after defeating Utica City FC in two games in the Eastern Division semifinals.

The Comets experienced one of the most unusual regular seasons in league history, one that could be broken into three parts, or more appropriately, three streaks.

They started the season blazing as one of the hottest teams in the league while rolling to a 7-1 mark.

Then, in an abrupt about face, Kansas City dropped its next eight games.

The Comets jumped out of their slump in spectacular fashion, winning seven of their final eight matches.

Reget called it a "crazy roller coaster."

But the Comets got their act together at the right time.

They finished third in the Eastern Division with a 14-6-4 record and 45 points, three points behind Utica City (16-7-1, 48).

In the division semifinals, KC swept Utica, winning at home, 5-4, on April 8, and then on the road, 7-5, on Monday, April 15.

In Game Two, the Comets overcame a 4-3 deficit in the third quarter. Nacho Flores had a hat-trick, including the go-ahead goal, and Reget added a brace.

"The atmosphere in Utica was unreal," Reget said. "It was extremely loud. It's everything you want in a playoff game.

"With a quick turnaround with Milwaukee, our legs are definitely thanking us today and yesterday for not having a mini game."

The Comets will visit the Milwaukee Wave (15-7-2, 44), which finished a point behind them, in the first game of the divisional final on Friday at 7:35 p.m. ET.

The team returned home on Tuesday and will travel to Milwaukee on Thursday.

"Right now, it's more just trying to get sleep," Reget said. "After a game, you don't really sleep too much, and then we have a quick turnaround. So today [Wednesday] was all about recovery, yesterday was all about recovery, probably tomorrow as well. It's just trying to get your body right.

"In the playoffs, you don't really practice as much. It's more a health situation. How healthy can you feel going into the next game? It's more just paying attention to little things and making sure you get as close to 100 percent as you can be."

In contrast, the Wave last played on April 7, when it pulled off those two historic wins at the Monterrey Flash.

"They've had a lot of days since their last playoff game, which can help you or hurt you," Reget said. "It obviously will help you in regard to injuries and getting ready, but you have to worry about a slow start. We were in the same spot with our series with Utica.

"There's always pros and cons to each. You wish it was just one series a week but with the hand that was dealt, you just got to deal with it."

Although they are in the same time zone, the teams met but once during the regular season, a 9-3 away win for Kansas City in the league opener for both teams during Thanksgiving Weekend on Nov. 26.

The game will be a homecoming for Reget, who hails from Kenosha, Wis., which is 38 miles from Milwaukee.

Needless to say, Reget is looking forward to the match.

"Yeah, I think Friday's going to be pretty epic for Milwaukee," he said. "I think that there's going to be a lot more fans there than anyone expects. It's going to be on a weekend. It's always nice when the away fans come. So, it'll be a great atmosphere.

"I'm excited to be home in Milwaukee. There should be a good following from Kenosha. Leonardo Acosta [midfielder] is from Chicago. A couple of other guys are from the area. From a fan perspective, it should be a fun game to be in."

The second game is set for Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence, Mo. on Monday, April 22 at 7:35 p.m. ET.

"Games in Kansas City always have a good atmosphere," Reget said. "But Monday nights are a little harder to get people out, compared to a weekend. This community here is very, very loyal, very dedicated. So, I would expect we still have about 3,000-3,500 loud ones. We feed off that. We're excited for it. The playoffs, you're motivated already, but the atmosphere definitely makes the stage that much better."

The Eastern winner will take on victor of the San Diego Sockers-Chihuahua Savage series.

Reget said that he liked Kansas City's chances. It goes beyond the team's talent.

"I played on a couple teams in this league, everyone likes to say they have a good locker room," he said. "But not every locker room is hanging out outside of practice. It just helps to be a close group. That's helped us through a lot of adversity throughout the season."

He also has liked the way the newcomers have meshed together with the veterans.

"We rely on a lot of our young players as well to play consistently which is not an easy thing to ask young players to do," Reget said. "You need a couple of veterans. You need a good goalkeeper. You need some good leaders, but you also need some fresh newcomers that people haven't laid eyes on yet."

Reget, the MASL 2017-18 rookie of the year, has lived up to his promise as a young player. In fact, the 6-foot, 200-lb. forward is coming off his best season statistically. He tied Empire Strykers' Marco Fabian for the league goal-scoring championship with a career-high 35 tallies while assisting on 13. He also finished fifth in points, a career-best 48.

He credited Stefan Stokic, who took over as Comets head coach prior to this campaign, "that made me step into that role of being a leader, [him] being more open to my opinions and thoughts."

"I'm always asking questions where we have a lot of conversations on set-piece plays or this and that," Reget added. "To have a coach that actually listens to you is huge. I think that's a rare thing to have in this league. I think that he has humility that you need, letting people get in his ear. He'll take what he wants and he'll disregard me at times, as well as he should."

Like many indoor players, Reget started playing in the great outdoors. But he grew to love the indoor game.

"Indoor soccer is not a mix of all sports, but has a lot of them," he said. "It's super aggressive. I love the physicality that the game allows. ... I love how fast-paced the game is. It reminds me of a lot of hockey with the boards. The ball doesn't really go out too much. What outdoor soccer lacks in goals, indoors has. It’s just a lot closer in an indoor arena where it just gets so loud.

"You have to mentally be there. You’re exhausted after the game because you're working your brain so hard.

"It's a team sport, but at the same time, there's only five people trying to share one ball instead of 11. You see the ball more. I love that game. A lot of people ask me, 'Why don't you pursue outdoors more?' That was definitely the childhood dream. The main difference is the salaries a little bit, but my passion is definitely for the indoor game. I mean, it's incredible."

Of course, Reget would trade a scoring crown for a championship ring in a micro-second. Not just for himself, not just for the Comets, but for Kansas City.

"It would mean the world," he said. "This community is a sports town, and they deserve that. They're a very consistent fanbase. They deserve a championship culture and team, whether that's a ring or at least competing every year. So, to be able to reward them with this would be very wholesome for all of us."

At 28, Reget is just getting into his prime with many goals ahead of him. Indoor forwards traditionally hit their prime in their 30s. But he wants more than goals.

"I just want to be known as a great leader," he said. "I want rings, I'm not going to lie to you. I want all of them. Is that Is that feasible? No, but I want to win. I want to win a ring. I want to win the most rings that anyone's ever won.

"But from a more reasonable standpoint, from my teammates and the brothers you create, I want to be their leader and I want to be if [things] hit the fan, I was the first one there. I always had their back whether that was off field on the field, whatever they need is soccer related, whatever it is just being a Godly man, I was just there for them.

"I want to compete until the wheels fall off. ... I love this game and I want to play it forever. The body doesn't allow that. I think just maximizing my time. Hopefully it'll be a long time."

Reget noted that Comets goalkeeper coach Alan Mayer has a championship ring. Mayer backstopped the San Diego Sockers to the 1982-83 Major Indoor Soccer League title.

“You see Alan Mayer taking pictures with more of those old heads who have won rings together,” he said. “Just being able to leave that legacy, you become immortal, once you win a ring. You're in the history books. To be able to do that with a group of guys is so much better than doing it on your own."

Michael Lewis, the editor of FrontRowSoccer.com, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) at @SoccerWriter. Lewis can be reached via email at socwriter@optonline.com. He has written two books" Alive and Kicking: The incredible, but true story of the Rochester Lancers and a sequel, STILL AND ALIVE AND KICKING: The story of the 21st century Rochester Lancers. It has many features about indoor soccer and MASL players. Both books can be purchased at www.RochesterLancersBook.com.