Comets lose tough battle in Baltimore

The Kansas City Comets suffered a 7-4 loss on Sunday against the Baltimore Blast at SECU Arena.

Tito Favela got the start in goal with a limited roster available from the start as a delayed kickoff still wasn’t enough to get the rest of the players to the arena on time. The remaining five players eventually arrived during the first quarter.

It took the Blast just 73 seconds to score the opener as Jamie Thomas scored his ninth goal of the season. After that, the Comets managed to weather the storm until their full complement of players got involved.

It appeared as though the Comets might have been able to make it out of the first quarter with just a one-goal deficit, but Baltimore ended the opening quarter with two more goals inside the final minute as Juan Pereira and Tony Donatelli got on the scoresheet to make it 3-0.

The Comets responded in the second quarter when Adrian Gutierrez scored the first goal of his MASL career. Zach Reget found Gutierrez centrally, who sent a high chip that beat the keeper and landed perfectly in the back of the net.

The Comets pulled within one score towards the end of the firs half when Reget dished another assist, this time winning the ball in the offensive third and finding Christian Anderaos who punished Baltimore’s turnover with a nicely composed finish.

The Comets scored a third goal unanswered to tie the game 3-3 in the third period when Lucas Sousa rifled in a rebounded effort with his right foot unassisted.

Baltimore went back in front when Pereira scored his second of the night with six seconds remaining in the third. That was followed by Donatelli’s second of the night midway through the fourth quarter and Moises Gonzalez getting his 15th goal this season to make it 6-3 on the power play.

The Comets weren’t done yet, however, as they scored a shorthanded goal when Reget perfectly weaved a pass through traffic to find Anderaos at the far post to make it 6-4 with 1:12 left in the contest.

That goal brought life back to the Comets, which was distinguished when the Blast scored a well-worked power play goal with 37 seconds left as Jonatas Melo headed in a pass from Lucas Roque as the game finished 7-4 in favor of the Blast.

The Comets edged the Blast in shots 35-33 but were unable to convert from two power play opportunities.

The Comets stay in fifth place with Sunday’s loss, which is just enough to hang on to a playoff spot with the Ambush four points back.

The Comets return home on Sunday, March 26, when they host the Harrisburg Heat. Get two free tickets to Sunday's game by signing up for the Comets 5k Run benefitting Team Fidelis.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – BAL Thomas (Gonzalez) 1:13; BAL Pereira 14:05; BAL Donatelli (Melo) 14:14. Penalties — None.

2nd – KC Gutierrez (Reget) 8:24; KC Anderaos (Reget) 11:51. Penalties — None.

3rd – KC Sousa 5:27; BAL Pereira (Thomas) 14:54. Penalties — BAL Thompson (bc- handling) 1:34.

4th – BAL Donatelli (Melo) 7:36; BAL Gonzalez (Pereira) PP 12:59; KC Anderaos (Reget) 13:48; BAL Melo (Roque) PP 14:23. Penalties — BAL Thompson (bc- tripping) 8:10; KC Monreal (bc- reckless tackle) 12:18; KC Monreal (yc- major penalty) 12:18; KC Neto (bc-tripping) 12:38.

Power Play – Comets 0/2, Baltimore 1/2

Penalty Minutes – Comets 9, Baltimore 4

Fouls – Comets 15, Baltimore 10

Shots – Comets 35, Baltimore 33

Attendance – 1,829