By Fred Liggett
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The Kansas City Comets successfully ended a 10-day layoff by scoring a 7-5 win over the Empire Strykers on Friday, Jan. 10. The game played at Cable Dahmer arena was the first action of 2025 for the Comets who had a scheduled game on January 5th postponed due to wintry weather in the metro area.
The Comets, now 5-0-2 on the 24-25 season, used a four-goal second quarter to take the lead and go on to win the matchup against the Strykers. The Comets offense showed no effects from the long layoff as they led in shots on goal after each quarter except for the fourth quarter. The Strykers, the visitors from California, ended up outshooting the Comets 30-25. Comets captain Nacho Flores and Rain Marques were the stars of the match. Flores scored two second quarter goals to help the Comets take the lead, a lead they would never relinquish. Marques scored the eventual game winning goal halfway through the third quarter.
Flores after the match commented, “Happy we won, but not happy about the mistakes at the end.” Nacho added, “My family was here” all the way from his native Chile. Comets head coach Stefan Stokic said the team “made a little adjustment before the second quarter” and felt the team did a better job “putting away our chances.”
Regarding the unplanned 10 day layoff Stokic says the team “only practiced three times in the last seven days.” Stokic wasn’t concerned about the team’s fitness level due to “players have gyms in their apartments, up to them to get the work in.” Up next for the Comets is a trip to San Diego to play the Sockers on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Stokic feels the Sockers, “They are a really good team.”
The Comets players and staff left their home arena on Friday night satisfied to start the new year off with a win. The Comets are currently tied with the Chihuahua Savage at the top of the MASL standings with 17 points after seven games for both teams. Next home game for the Comets is on Saturday, Jan. 25 when they host the Savage with a game time at 6:05 p.m.
