COMETS DROP AN 8-3 DECISION TO DALLAS SUNDAY IN TEXAS

by Pete Richmire

ALLEN, TX. – The Comets (11-5-1) made their final visit to the Credit Union of Texas Event Center to face the Sidekicks (9-8-1) and for the first time in four games against Dallas, came out on the short side with an 8-5 loss. Uncharacteristically, the Comets were held scoreless for an entire half in the game.

Kansas City got off to a two-goal lead in the first quarter beginning with a restart marker from Lesia Thetsane who took the pass from Lucas Sousa for a 1-0 lead with 10:56 to go in the opening frame. The Comets continue to build on their success with restarts so far this season.

After the Comets’ defense killed off a Dallas power-play, Kansas City went a man up following a Sidekicks blue card for too many men. Leo Gibson sent a long pass to Ali Sodal who was on the left side of the goal and volleyed the ball past Dallas keeper Juan Gamboa for the 2-0 lead with 6:49 to go in the first.

With less than a minute to go in the first, Bradlee Baladez cut the Comets’ lead in half with the Sidekicks’ first goal, and the game moved to the second quarter with Kansas City holding a 2-1 lead.

Dallas leveled the game at 2-2 on an unassisted goal by Luiz Morales, the first of two in the half for him. His solo effort off a steal came with 12:53 to play in the half. That goal kicked off a quick succession of goals and the second was started by a long pass high off the end boards by Thetsane to Rian Marques, who buried it with a header for a 3-2 Kansas City lead.

Exactly one minute later, Dallas tied the game at 3-3 when Morales found Erik Macias for the goal with 10:50 to go in the second. The Sidekicks took the lead on a shoot-out goal by Morales after Comets’ keeper Nicolau Neto was issued a blue card for a handball outside the box. That was the final goal of the half, and the teams went to the locker room with the Comets trailing Dallas 4-3.

The Sidekicks were able to stretch their lead with the only goal of the third quarter. Anthony Powell picked up a loose ball behind Neto near the yellow line and went unimpeded to the goal for the 5-3 lead.

Dallas tacked on three more goals in the final quarter while Kansas City could not find their footing in the second half and the Sidekicks defeated the Comets for the first time this season by an 8-3 final.

The teams will conclude their season series on Sunday, March 20 when the Sidekicks visit Cable Dahmer Arena for a 4:00 pm start. Between now and then the Milwaukee Wave will make their final trip to Independence on Friday. Kick-off for that match is 7:00 pm.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – KC Thetsane (Sousa) 4:04; KC Sodal (Gibson) 5:41 pp. Penalties – KC Anderaos (blue- holding) 4:41; DAL bench (blue- too many men) 8:11.

2nd – DAL Morales 2:07; KC Marques (Thetsane) 3:10; DAL Macias (Morales) 4:10; DAL Morales 6:22 so. Penalties – KC Neto (blue- GK handball outside the box) 6:22.

3rd – DAL Powell 11:03. Penalties – KC Sousa (blue- tripping) 7:07; KC Marques (blue- tripping) 13:43.

4th – DAL Silva (Lovegrove) 14:31; DAL Baladez (Macias) 3:15; DAL Ortiz 12:22 sh. Penalties – DAL bench (blue- delay of game) 6:16; DAL bench (blue- too many men) 10:18.

Power Play – Comets 1/2, Dallas 1/4

Shots – Comets 16, Dallas 25

Attendance – 1,370