The Kansas City Comets’ season has slowly taken a downward spiral, with the team losing for the third time in four games in a 9-7 road defeat on March 6 against the Tacoma Stars.
The Comets’ defeat in Tacoma, Washington, last Friday was full of action and opportunities but most of all disappointment. While defender Lesia Thetsane registered his second hat trick of the season in the first quarter, the Comets let a 6-3 halftime lead slip away in the second half.
It was a familiar feeling of not being able to kill off the game and being exploited for mistakes on the other end. While it didn’t haunt them in their last win against Utica City FC last month, it did haunt them against Tacoma, which boasts the best home record in the Major Arena Soccer League.
Tacoma entered the game with a reinvigorated roster, which included the four-time MASL MVP Franck Tayou making his Stars debut. Tayou scored twice to lead a 5-0 run for the Stars in the third quarter, while the Comets struggled to get back into the game until a strike late in the third from Christian Anderaos.
Ultimately, it was not enough. While the Comets had more opportunities in the fourth, with several efforts barely missing, their comeback effort was unsuccessful.
Blame could be cast in various directions, but the team knows it comes down to individual and collective execution. The players hope to address those concerns in the week ahead, knowing improvements are needed to ensure the Comets (31 points) of a spot in the playoffs, which requires a top-six finish in the regular season.
Tacoma (23 points) hopes to pounce on further slip-ups from the fifth-place Comets and sixth-place Empire Strykers (25 points).
After hoping to earn a top-two playoff seed to earn a first-round bye, recent results have made that path much more difficult. After dropping 8 of their last 12 possible points, the Comets now sit in fifth with a tough five-game stretch to finish the regular season.
The Comets return home this Saturday, March 14, for a back-to-back with the San Diego Sockers. After Saturday’s game at Cable Dahmer Arena, both teams will meet again 24 hours later in San Diego.
Both teams will repeat a similar pattern to end the season on the last weekend of March, with a matchup on March 27 at Cable Dahmer Arena, followed by another meeting in San Diego on March 29. The Comets will also host the Baltimore Blast on March 21.
The Comets’ game this Saturday will feature a Celebrity Game played at halftime. Fans can visit kccomets.com/tickets to purchase tickets.
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