AMBUSH COME FROM BEHIND TO CLIP COMETS 7-6

by Pete Richmire

ST. CHARLES, MO. – The Kansas City Comets (1-3) held a three-goal advantage in the second half, but the St. Louis Ambush (2-2) scored four straight goals to edge out the win at The Family Arena Saturday night. With the loss, the Comets have dropped three in a row headed back to Cable Dahmer Arena to open their home schedule Friday.

It was a fast-paced game over all but the first 15 minutes leaned Kansas City’s way as they picked up the first two goals of the match beginning with Hector Solorio’s first of the season. He fired it in from a couple of feet out on a cross-goal pass from Mirko Sandivari to give KC the lead with 5:39 left in the opening frame. The Comets went up 2-0 on Rian Marques’ third goal of the season, scored while holding off a St. Louis defender with 1:47 to go in the first.

The teams combined for five goals in the second quarter. Howard Miller Jr opened scoring for St. Louis with an unassisted goal just 2:15 into the quarter. He then assisted on a goal by Ado Jahic to tie the game 2-2 with 7:31 on the clock.

Following blue cards to St. Louis’ Richard Schmermund and Kansas City’s Adam James 23 seconds apart, the field opened as the teams played 4-on-4. Lucas Almeida took advantage quick, putting the home team in front, assisted by Max Ferdinand, with 4:39 to play in the half. Their lead did not last long as Sandivari connected with Marques, for his second of the match less than half a minute later.

The final goal of the first half came on an unassisted effort by James giving KC a 4-3 lead headed to the locker room.

The Comets came out firing in the second half, scoring the first two goals quickly, first by Sandivari 25 seconds into the third. Lucas Sousa notched his fourth of the season, this one unassisted giving Kansas City a 6-3 with 11:32 to go in the quarter.

The final four goals of the match belonged to the Ambush. Vadim Cojocov scored back-to-back markers, one in the third and one in the fourth to bring St. Louis within one, at 6-5 with 13:14 to go in the game. Just over a minute later, Ferdinand, on his second of three assists, connected with Duduca Carvalho for the equalizer with plenty of time to play, 12:07.

The teams battled, with incredible saves from Comets goalkeeper Nicolau Neto, and his St. Louis counterpart, Paulo Nascimento, for the next ten minutes with neither team scoring. Ambush defender Sam Guernsey, assisted by Ferdinand, found the perfect time for his first goal of the season, finding the back of the net with just 1:19 to go. That would not be enough time for Kansas City to force over time and St. Louis won their second in a row.

The Comets open their home schedule on Friday when they to welcome the Tacoma Stars to Cable Dahmer Arena on January 22. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or by calling (888) 9-COMETS.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – KC Solorio (Sandivari) 9:21; KC Marques (Neto) 13:13. Penalties – none.

2nd – STL Miller Jr 2:15; STL Jahic (Miller Jr) 7:29; STL Almeida (Ferdinand) 11:21; KC Marques (Sandivari) 11:55; KC James 13:52. Penalties – STL Schmermund blue card (tripping) 10:43; KC James blue card (pushing) 11:06; KC James yellow card (dissent) 11:21.

3rd – KC Sandivari 0:25; KC Sousa 3:28; KC Sousa 3:28; STL Cojocov (Souza) 9:45. Penalties – none.

4th – STL Cojocov (Carvalho) 1:46; STL Carvalho (Ferdinand) 2:53; STL Guernsey (Ferdinand) 13:41. Penalties – KC Sosa yellow card (dissent) 5:31.

Shots – Kansas City 6-6-5-4 (21); St. Louis 5-6-6-9 (26)