COMETS DROP FRONT END OF HOME-AND-HOME SERIES 8-3 TO AMBUSH

by Pete Richmire

ST. CHARLES, MO. – The Comets (13-8-1) began their final home-and-home series of the regular season on Saturday at The Family Arena and concluded the road portion of their 2021-22 campaign with an 8-3 loss to the St. Louis Ambush (9-12-2). With the Central Division Title and the 3rd seed to the Ron Newman Cup Playoffs in their back pocket, the biggest point for the Comets is to avoid injuries which they were able to do tonight.

Kansas City picked up the first two goals of the night beginning with a great rebound read by Junior Kazeem. Lalo Alejo fired a shot that struck the glass above the goal and Kazeem was in the perfect spot to fire home the rebound and put the Comets up 1-0 with 12:47 left in the first quarter.

Alejo assisted on the next goal as well, this one scored by Mike Da-Silva when he directed a loose ball inside the box past the Ambush keeper for a 2-0 lead with 10:09 still to go in the opening frame.

Then, St. Louis went on a run that lasted into the 3rd quarter and consisted of seven goals. Two were scored by William Eskay and Duduca Carvalho. During the Ambush goal streak, Vadim Cojocov and Robert Kristo added a goal, and Lucas Almeida scored the 7th goal on the power play following a blue card to Milos Vucic.

With just 36 seconds left to go in the 3rd quarter, Felipe Abreu controlled the ball during a scrum in the right corner and sent a pass to a wide-open Mako Makoanyane at the top of the box. Makoanyane made quick work of the pass, turning it into a goal that sent the game to the final quarter with St. Louis leading 7-3.

The final goal of the game completed a hat-trick for Carvalho and reached the 8-3 final in front of 3,893 fans at the Ambush’s final home game of the regular season.

The teams will conclude their regular season and home-and-home series tomorrow at Cable Dahmer Arena with a 4 pm kickoff.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – KC Kazeem (Alejo) 2:13; KC Da-Silva (Alejo) 4:51; STL Thomas (Michaud) 7:06; STL Eskay (Ndiaye) 8:17. Penalties – None.

2nd – STL Eskay (Michaud) 5:55. Penalties – None.

3rd – STL Cojocov (Berry) 1:23; STL Kristo (Junqueira) 12:45; STL Almeida (Thomas) 4:49 pp; KC Makoanyane (Abreu) 14:24. Penalties – KC Vucic (bc- boarding) 3:39.

4th – STL Carvalho (Berry) 10:58. Penalties – KC Sandivari (bc- contact above the shoulder/elbow) 12:10.


Power Play – Comets 0/0, St. Louis 1/2

Penalty Minutes – Comets 4, St. Louis 0

Shots – Comets 34, St. Louis 30

Attendance – 3,893