Comets conclude regular season with win in Harrisburg

The Kansas City Comets (11-9-4) are heading to postseason play in good form after winning their second straight contest against the Harrisburg Heat (6-16-1) on Saturday night by a final score of 5-1 in Harrisburg.

Entering the final weekend with hopes of hosting the play-in game, the Comets fulfilled their obligation by beating the Heat but Utica City defeated the Baltimore Blast 4-3 to edge out the Comets by one point in the standings. As a result, the Comets will head to Utica on Monday, April 10 for the play-in game.

“That field is really hard to play on, so for us to go there and get a win like that is certainly a good feeling for us going into the playoffs,” said forward Zach Reget.

The Comets showed well right from the start in Harrisburg, resulting in an early lead when Christian Anderaos linked up with Zach Reget. Anderaos latched on to the loose ball and found Reget in the left corner, who returned the ball as Anderaos dashed towards the back post and lifted the ball high into the net.

Reget provided another goal later in the first quarter, but this time it was kickstarted when Ray Lee knocked the loose ball into the Comets’ attacking third. Along the right side, Reget took a touch to control with his head before centering it for Lucas Sousa to redirect an effort off his chest for the Brazilian’s 22nd goal this season.

The Heat finally got on the board 10:03 into the second quarter. Lesia Thetsane dumped a ball into the right corner that Harrisburg midfielder Matthew Brummet pounced on for the first goal of his career, taking a touch with his right before turning and firing a shot into the corner.

After a scoreless second period for the Comets, they returned to the scoresheet 10:08 into the third period when Anderaos got his second of the night. Holding the ball near the boards on the left side, Leo Gibson showed patience as he let the play develop and found Anderaos’ head at the far post.

The Comets were not done yet. Reget had more to give offensively and he showed it with 11:32 remaining in the contest. John Sosa found Reget with a pass off the wall in the left corner as Reget turned with the ball and sent a thunderous strike past the keeper to complete the wallascora goal.

Still, Reget was not done yet. The dominant forward found the 100th regular season goal of his MASL career to make it 5-1 with 2:19 remaining, scoring a shorthanded goal against the Harrisburg sixth attacker as he received a pass from Ramone Palmer before turning and firing a laser into the empty net from inside the Comets’ defensive half.

Nicolau Neto picked up his 10th win of the season while ending the regular season with a career-high 273 saves and saving 74% of shots.

“We are not satisfied with just a two-game winning streak,” Reget said. “We want to hit our stride and we want to make a nice run into the playoffs. For us to end on a good note in the regular season is good for us.”

The Comets now put all their attention on the postseason, which begins with a play-in game on the road against Utica City FC on Monday, April 10.