COMETS RETURN HOME TO FACE FAMILIAR FOE

KANSAS CITY (Dec. 26, 2019) – The Kansas City Comets host the Tacoma Stars at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena Saturday at 6:05 p.m., welcoming back Tacoma goalkeeper Danny Waltman, who spent five seasons with the Comets, helping them win the 2014 MISL title. Kansas City and Tacoma haven’t collided since March 2, 2018, a 7-6 overtime win in Kent, Wash.

The Stars (2-3) visit Kansas City for the second stop of a four-game tour through Missouri and Texas. They play at the St. Louis Ambush Friday before playing the Comets Saturday and the Mesquite Outlaws and Dallas Sidekicks consecutive days next week. 

The Comets (2-3) just returned from the same two-games-in-two-days trip through Texas, winning the first bout with the Outlaws before falling to the Sidekicks. Like the Stars, the Comets have opened the season primarily on the road, playing four of their first five games away. Saturday marks just the second home game of the season, the first since the Nov. 30 win against the Ambush.

“I think it has a lot of value when you get to play in your own arena with a lot of your people behind you,” said Kansas City veteran John Sosa. “Plus, it saves a lot of the traveling, obviously. It does help to play at home, so we’re definitely excited and looking forward to it.” 

Also like the Stars, the Comets sit in the middle of their respective table. Tacoma enters Friday’s clash with St. Louis in fifth place in the West, and the Comets sit in fifth in the East.

Both teams are also led offensively by outstanding player/coaches. Tacoma’s Nick Perera is tied for the league lead with 13 points off six assists and seven goals. Kansas City’s Leo Gibson has 12 points with six goals and as many assists.

“Very good team. They like to build out of the back. They have a very talented goalkeeper and a very talented forward, and they play off those guys,” said Sosa of the Stars.

“Off the build-up they use Danny [Waltman] a lot, and up top they like to play off of their target, Perera, so we’re aware of who they are. It’s going to be a huge challenge for us, but we’re excited.”

Of Waltman specifically, still a former teammate of many current Comets, Sosa said, “Great guy, great goalkeeper, super professional, and it’s always great to score on him.”

Tickets for Saturday’s clash can be found at KCComets.com. The game will also be streamed live on MASL.tv.