KANSAS CITY COMETS LOSE HEARTBREAKER IN OVERTIME

TACOMA, Washington (March 2, 2018) – The Kansas City Comets made their first trip to the accesso ShoWare Center tonight, home of the Tacoma Stars. Bryan Perez and Andre Braithwaite each score twice, but the Tacoma Stars convert a restart from the left side of the goal a minute into overtime to hand the Comets the 7-6 loss.

An aggressive attack from the Comets to start the game had most of the early play in Kansas City’s attacking end. The Stars were able to break out of pressure a few times and earned some open looks at goal, but rookie goalkeeper Mark Saxby stood tall every time.

Tacoma’s goalkeeper Danny Waltman was impressive on his own end as well. Comets captain Perez was the only one to find the goal in the opening quarter, giving Kansas City a 1-0 lead after the first 15 minutes.

Tacoma’s Nick Perera scored less than a minute into the second quarter to briefly tie the game. Two minutes later, Braithwaite put the Comets back on top. Perez got his second score at the end of the quarter and the Comets went into the halftime break ahead 3-1.

The lead evaporated in the third quarter as former Comets defender Robert Palmer and Philip Lund tied the game by the tenth minute of the period. Lund’s goal was actually scored against a Comets Penalty Kill after Braithwaite was sent to the penalty box for tripping. The veteran forward made up for the penalty by giving the Comets another lead almost a minute after he was let loose from the box. After 3 quarter, the Comets still held onto a 4-3 lead.

Tacoma took their first lead of the night after opening the fourth quarter with goals from Raphael Cox and Vince McCluskey in a 13 second span. Kansas City rookie Mirko Sandivari scored his second goal of the season 35 seconds later to cap a flurry of offense from both teams.

The Comets and Stars traded goals in the final minutes of the game. Tacoma’s Cox was first, followed by an equalizer from Nacho Flores with under five minutes remaining in regulation. After the first 60 minutes of play, the Kansas City Comets and Tacoma Stars headed to overtime tied at 6-6.

Unfortunately for the Comets, the Tacoma Stars only needed one minute and ten seconds of overtime to end the game. Cox scored capped his hat trick on a corner kick from the left side of goal, handing the Comets a 7-6 overtime loss.

The Comets will return home this Sunday, March 4 to finish out their 2017-2018 campaign against the Florida Tropics at 5:05 p.m. CT. The game also marks the return of the World Famous Mascot Game. Comets’ mascot, Calvin the Canine, and all of his mascot friends will engage in the most entertaining soccer exhibition at halftime.

The Comets will also be auctioning off their Game-Used white Rainbow jerseys in a silent auction during the game. Tickets for the match are available online here.