Comets stunned in RNC Quarterfinal opener

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Nothing went right for the No. 5-seeded Kansas City Comets in Game 1 of their MASL Quarterfinal Series on Monday evening, falling to No. 4-seeded St. Louis Ambush 9-4 at Cable Dahmer Arena.

While the game was close for most of the first half, the Comets fell behind by as many as seven goals in the second half as the game trickled out of hand as STL’s Will Eskay scored five of his seven points in the third quarter. Three goals in the fourth quarter with the sixth attacker brought KC back within five before the night’s conclusion.

The Ambush grabbed the lead — the first lead in the playoffs over Kansas City since 1998 — just 97 seconds into Monday’s contest as Mario Falsone scored in his playoff debut. The Comets struck back five minutes later when Christian Anderaos was patient enough to steady himself for the equalizer.

The visitors grabbed another lead in the second quarter, when James Thomas made it 2-1 after Will Eskay danced through the field to feed Thomas in front of goal. Falsone struck once more in the second quarter, giving the Ambush a 3-1 lead entering halftime.

Eskay, already with two assists in the second quarter, took it upo another notch in the third quarter. After assisting a third consecutive STL goal early in the third for Mehrshad Ahmadi, Eskay scored four goals himself to stretch the Ambush lead to 8-1.

Desperate to find an answer, the Comets inserted Zach Reget as the sixth attacker from the start of the fourth quarter. It took just 82 seconds for it to pay off as the Comets’ scoreless streak ended when Nacho Flores found Dom Francis to make it 8-2.

St. Louis pulled it back when Robert Williamson made it 9-2. With the goalkeeper pulled, the Comets combination of Francis and Rian Marques connected twice late in the contest to make it 9-4.

While the Comets outshot the Ambush 42-32, they were met by a strong performance in goal by STL’s Pollo Cortes, who made 22 saves. On the defensive end, the Comets struggled to stick with runners and get enough last-ditch blocks.

“A wake up call should have been a long time ago,” Stokic said. “You don’t want to be in that spot as a team in the playoffs, but the only thing we can control right now is the second game. We’ll get prepared for that and give it our best.”

With their back up against the wall, the Comets have to win Game 2 in St. Charles on Wednesday to force a series-deciding Knockout Game at the conclusion of Game 2. Comets fans can purchase tickets for Wednesday’s contest at www.stlambush.com/kc-fans.

COMETS VS. SOCKERS 3-29-2026 SCORING SUMMARY

GAME STATS

Attendance - 4,331