Blast gets some revenge with 6-4 playoff win over visiting Comets

Many Blast players remember watching the Missouri Comets celebrate a Major Indoor Soccer League championship last season before a stunned crowd in Baltimore.

Almost a year later, after a move to the Major Arena Soccer League, the Blast finally got some measure of revenge. In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Blast emerged with a 6-4 victory before an announced 4,562 at Royal Farms Arena on Friday night.

Adriano Dos Santos, Tony Donatelli and Lucas Roque scored for the Blast, which handed the Comets their first loss of the season.

"It was an unbelievable performance," Blast coach Danny Kelly said. "Defensively, to be able to hold that team, the highest-scoring team in the league, to two goals is a tremendous achievement. Obviously, it was just one game. We wanted to win that game and go into Missouri up a game. We accomplished that, and now we have to win there."

The second game of the series will be played Sunday at Independence Events Center, in the Kansas City, Mo., suburbs. If the Comets win, the teams will play a 15 minute mini game immediately afterward to determine the series' winner.

Comets goalkeeper Danny Waltman finished with 18 saves, including several diving stops that kept the Blast from fully taking control.

William Vanzela (26 saves) was equally adept in goal for the Blast and helped keep the game tied at 2 midway through the third quarter when he stopped a bicycle kick from Leo Gibson, who led the league in scoring during the regular season. The Blast took a 4-2 lead with 3:10 left in the third when Donatelli slotted the ball past Waltman.

Roque provided a 6-2 margin just 2:53 into the final period. From there, the Blast continued to stay aggressive on defense, and the Comets appeared to wear down, having played the previous night. Missouri pulled Waltman for a sixth attacker and got to within 6-4 on a goal by Gibson with under four minutes left.

"It's a playoff game, and they battle hard," Donatelli said. "We knew that coming in. They played last night, and [we] tried to take advantage of that. In the playoffs, it's always hard to find goals. We were able to grind it out tonight."

The Blast didn't play the Comets this season. Last year, Missouri beat the visiting Blast, 15-8, in Game 1 of the MISL championship series. The Blast responded with a 19-4 victory in Game 2 to force a mini game. Missouri, however, took home the title after a 6-4 win.

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Blast gets some revenge with 6-4 playoff win over visiting Comets

Blast Hand Comets First Loss of Season

March 13, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Baltimore Blast The Blast hosted the Missouri Comets on Friday night in a highly anticipated matchup in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. In a game that exceeded expectations the Blast handed the Comets their first loss of the season. Baltimore came out victorious 6-4.

The game was a defensive battle right from the beginning. The Missouri Comets scored the first goal of the game when Alain Matingou scored at the 12:51 mark assisted by Bryan Perez. At the end of the first the Comets led 2-0.

The second quarter the Blast tied the game with a goal from Adriano Dos Santos assisted by Jonathan Melo. The goal came at the 13:42 mark and it was Dos Santos' 12th goal of the season. The Blast defense was able to hold the Comets scoreless in the quarter and William Vanzela recorded 7 saves in the first half. The halftime score was 2-2.

In the second half the physical play continued and the Blast were the only team able to find the back of the net in the quarter. After a long pass through the Comets defense by Pat Healey, Tony Donatelli was able to beat the keeper giving the Blast their first lead of the night. The Blast went into the final quarter leading 4-2.

Both teams came out with high intensity during the fourth quarter. The Blast leading goal scored Lucas Roque found the back of the net at the 2:53 mark off a pass from Tony Donatelli extending the Blast lead to 4. After a Leo Gibson goal the Blast defense and goalkeeper William Vanzela displayed an outstanding defensive performance sealing the victory for the Blast.

The final score was 6-4.

The Blast move to 20-2 on the season and 2-0 in the playoffs and hand the Missouri Comets their first loss of the season. The Blast were led offensively by Tony Donatelli who recorded one goal and one assist on the night. Lucas Roque and Adriano Dos Santos also recorded goals in the victory. Goalkeeper William Vanzela recorded 12 saves and improves to 16-2 while Pat Healey led the defense with 3 blocks.

Game 2 and the potential mini game will take place on Sunday, March 15th in Missouri. Kickoff is at 3 p.m. CTS from the Independence Events Center.

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Blast Hand Comets First Loss of Season

Preview: Comets Visit Baltimore for Game One of the Conference Championship

March 13, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Missouri Comets INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (March 13, 2015) - Not even 24 hours after winning the Central Divisional title with an 8-2 victory over the Milwaukee Wave, the Comets will visit the Royal Farms Arena for game one of the Conference Championship against the Baltimore Blast tonight at 6:35 p.m. CT.

Fans are encouraged to attend the official watch party hosted by Comets Nation at Coach's Bar and Grill (103rd & Wornall). The game will be streamed live on Go Live Sports Cast.

Baltimore advanced to the Conference Championship series after defeating the Rochester Lancers with a multipoint final score of 6-4 on Thursday. The Blast finished the regular season with an overall record of 18-2. Their only losses came against the San Diego Sockers and the Las Vegas Legends.

The longtime rivalry between the Comets and the Blast has seen epic battles on the field. Baltimore leads the All-time regular season series 10-3. However, the last time both teams met, Missouri defeated the Blast on the road to win the MISL Championship in the mini game with a final score of 6-4.

Head coach Danny Kelly's team is one of the four teams that still plays their home games under the multipoint scoring system along with Rochester, Syracuse and Harrisburg.

The series will feature six MASL All-League First Team players with goalkeeper William Vanzela and defender Pat Healey representing the Blast and John Sosa, Vahid Assadpour, Leo Gibson and Brian Harris on behalf of the Comets.

After setting records for most points (93), goals (48), assists (45) and points in a game (12), league leader Leo Gibson scored one goal and had one assist in the Divisional Final last night. In addition, team captain Vahid Assadpour was named Borden Man of the Match with a hat trick and one assist.

On the other hand, the Blast were led by midfielder Tony Donatelli totaling 35 points with 17 goals and 18 assists. Vanzela led the goalkeepers with a 2.83 GAA and four shutouts.

Tickets for Sunday are on sale now, call 855.4KC.GOAL for more information.

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Preview: Comets Visit Baltimore for Game One of the Conference Championship

Comets outlast Bruins at Doenges

All things considered, the Bartlesville High School varsity baseball team had little reason to hang its head after Thursdays 6-2 loss to the Bishop Kelley Comets.

For one thing, Kelley scored four of its runs on two swings of the bat a three-run homer by Riley Smith and a solo shot by Phillip Scott.

For another, Kelley is the returning Class 6A state runner-up and returned everyone from last years 17-11 season.

We didnt take advantage of a couple of opportunities, especially early noted Bruin head coach Spence Rigdon. Theyre (the Comets) a very good team.

The Bruins squandered their biggest chance in the bottom of the second.

With one out, Garrett Meidl and Logan McNeill ripped back-to-back singles.

But, Meidl was then retired on a fielders choice at third and the next batter flew out.

After falling behind 3-0, the Bruins finally uncorked a rally in the fourth inning.

Gage Gardner led off with a walk and Meidl reached on an error to open the inning.

Gardner then scored on a balk and Chandler Holliman grounded out to plate Meidl and cut the margin to one run, 3-2.

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Comets outlast Bruins at Doenges

Comets Defeat Milwaukee, Move on to the Conference Championship

March 12, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Missouri Comets INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (March 12, 2015) - The Missouri Comets continued to roll in the inaugural season of the Major Arena Soccer League by winning the Central Division championship after defeating the Milwaukee Wave 7-2 in front of 3,441 fans at the Independence Events Center.

Immediately after the match, head coach Vlatko Andonovski's team will hit the road to St. Louis, Missouri where they will board a plane to Baltimore in the morning for game one of the Conference Championship against the Blast tomorrow at 6:35 p.m. CT. Game two and three (if needed) will be played on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CT. at the Independence Events Center.

With three goals and one assist (four points), team captain Vahid Assadpour was named Borden Man of the Match. In addition, league leader Leo Gibson scored once and had two assists.

Three minutes into the match, Assadpour scored the first goal assisted by Bryan Perez. However, one minute later, Milwaukee's Tony Walls got the equalizer for the visitors. No more tallies were scored in the first quarter.

Only 14 seconds into the second stanza, rookie Kiel Williams found space between three Wave defenders and shot a rocket that crossed the line below the crossbar to make it 2-1. Goals from Perez, Josh Gardner and Assadpour ended the half 5-1.

The third quarter saw the Comets add two more goals to the score courtesy of Brian Harris and Gibson ending the quarter 7-1.

Former Comets player Stefan St. Louis shortened the lead for the Wave early in the fourth quarter but Assadpour's third of the night ended the match with an 8-2 final score.

Tickets for the Conference Championship second leg against the Baltimore Blast are on sale now. Call 855.4KC.GOAL for more information.

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Comets Defeat Milwaukee, Move on to the Conference Championship

Wave Travel to Missouri to Face Defending Champion Comets in Central Divison Final Thursday Night

March 10, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Milwaukee Wave Your Six-Time Champion MKE Wave travel to Missouri to face the defending MISL Champion Comets for the 2015 Major Arena Soccer League Central Division Championship, Thursday night, 7pm at Independence Events Center.

"I know the players are really excited to get a shot at the Comets." said Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero. "The Comets have had a great year and they're undefeated but we feel that we're playing our best soccer at the right time and we'll be ready. We know this is not just another game, it a one game knock out playoff game and we can't afford to not have a good performance because it's win or go home. The players are excited, I'm excited, and I think we're going to do well."

CALLING ALL MKE WAVE FANS! VIEWING PARTY AT THE ROCK!

The game is being broadcast LIVE! to the nation online via the WatchESPN App on your mobile devices or at ESPN3.com. Check with your cable provider for access or join MKE Wave Mascot Brad Beach and friends at The Rock Sports Complex, 7900 Crystal Ridge Rd, Franklin, WI 53132, for an all ages viewing party at Tapworks!

Enjoy $10 tubing at The Rock SnowPark from 5-8pm, if weather and conditions permit, delicious DiMaggio's Pizza (Large, one topping pizza, $10 or any DiMaggio's All-Star pizza, $15), and the Major Arena Soccer League Central Division Championship Game on ESPN3 at 7pm on TapWorks huge flat screen TVs! Enter to win MKE Wave prizes, learn more about MKE Wave Summer Soccer Camps and sign up on-site to take advantage of a $25 viewing party discount of Full or Half Day Camp (with $75 deposit) and lots more!

Learn more about The Rock Sports Complex - TapWorks, click here.

LET US KNOW YOU ARE COMING TO THE VIEWING PARTY!

PLEASE RSVP via email at vmcneil@milwaukeewave.com or on Facebook.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

The MKE Wave ended the MASL Regular Season with a record of 13-7 and eliminated Chicago from the opening round of the 2015 Major Arena Soccer League Ron Newman Cup Playoffs Saturday night by defeating the Mustangs in Game 2; (9-2) and Game 3; (2-1) in overtime at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

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Wave Travel to Missouri to Face Defending Champion Comets in Central Divison Final Thursday Night

Comets Lose in OT in Chicago

March 11, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets CHICAGO, I.L. - The Utica Comets (34-19-6-1) left Allstate Arena with one point after Wednesday night's 2-1 overtime loss to the Chicago Wolves (29-22-6-1). T the one point extended their first place North Division lead to eight.

Alexandre Grenier (1-0-1) scored the Comets only goal of the night, however Sven Baertschi (0-1-1) continued to impress his new teammates as he tallied his fifth assist in four games since joining the Comets at the trade deadline.

The net stayed empty on both ends of the ice until the start of the third stanza. Grenier opened up the scoring just past the five-minute mark after a wrist-shot from just behind the right dot sneaked over the shoulder of Matt Climie for the 1-0 lead. Cal O'Reilly recorded an assist, as well as Sven Baertschi.

At 15:14 the Comets let their lead slip away after Terry Broadhurst found the bouncing puck outside the slot and buried one past Eriksson's blocker side for the equalizer. Joel Edmundson received the primary assist on the play.

Chicago's late third period goal pushed the game to extra time, which panned out for the Wolves as Shane Harper was fed the puck from Brendan Bell for the one-timer at 4:10. With little time to react, the puck flew past Eriksson to give the Wolves' the game-winning goal. Adam Cracknell tallied the helper with his second assist of the game.

The Comets will be staying put as they prepare to face the Chicago Wolves for a second time this Saturday March 14 at 8 p.m. EST.

Three Stars: 1. CHI Matt Climie (Win, 26 Saves) 2. UTI Joacim Eriksson (31 Saves) 3. CHI Adam Cracknell (2 Assists)

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Comets Lose in OT in Chicago

Five Comets Players Receive All-League Honors

March 9, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Missouri Comets INDEPENDENCE, Mo (March 9, 2015) - A total of five Comets players were named to the Major Arena Soccer League All-League Teams for the recently completed 2014/15 regular season. League leader Leo Gibson, team captain Vahid Assadpour and defenders John Sosa and Brian Harris received Firs-Team honors. Goalkeeper Danny Waltman leads the Second-Team.

MASL leading scorer Leo Gibson was a unanimous selection at forward. Gibson set league records with 93 points, 45 assists, and 15 power play goals for the undefeated Missouri Comets.

Fellow teammate and Comets team captain Vahid Assadpour was the only player to be named on every ballot, earning First or Second team nods from every voter. The midfielder was fourth in the league with 61 points on 36 goals and 25 assists.

Two of the three defenders on the First Team also came from the Comets. John Sosa, who was third in points among defenders with 37 as well as 14 blocked shots received the most votes at the position. Brian Harris, last year's MISL Playoff MVP, was named to the First Team after a season in which he scored 36 points, blocked 18 shots, and went 1-0 with a 5.52 GAA as a sixth attacker/backup.

Baltimore Blast goalkeeper William Vanzela received the third most First Team votes after Gibson and Assadpour after a season in which he went 14-2 with a record 2.83 GAA. Vanzela's flashy numbers were punctuated by recording four of the league's six shutouts this season.

Joining Vanzela as the co-captains of Baltimore top-rated team defense is defender Pat Healey. Healey was named to the MASL Team of the Week four times and led the 18-2 Blast with 22 assists while adding seven goals and a league-leading 53 blocked shots.

Last, but certainly not least is San Diego Sockers star forward Kraig Chiles, the only returning MASL player on the list. The three-time MVP found his way to the First Team for the fifth straight season after scoring 45 goals and 17 assists for the 16-4 Sockers.

The Second Team is led by Comets goalkeeper Danny Waltman who set a league record with 17 wins, Rochester Lancers forward Mauricio Salles, St. Louis Ambush rookie forward Gordy Gurson, midfielder Tiguinho Dias of the Ontario Fury, Sockers defender Eduardo Velez, and Wichita B-52s defender Alex Moseley.

The Third Team features Sockers forward Nick Perera, Oxford City FC of Texas rookie forward Lucas Totti, Dallas Sidekicks forward Freddy Moojen, Turlock Express/Las Vegas Legends defender Enrique Tovar, and Syracuse Silver Knights defender Nelson Santana. Sockers goalkeeper Chris Toth, who is 39-6 in his career, rounded out the Third Team.

The finalists for Most Valuable Player, Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Coach of the Year, and Rookie of the Year will be announced on March 12. The final award winners will be announced at a time and location during the week of the Ron Newman Cup Finals.

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Five Comets Players Receive All-League Honors

Preview: Comets Open Playoffs on Thursday against the Milwaukee Wave

March 11, 2015 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) Missouri Comets Comets vs. Milwaukee Wave

Date: Thursday, March 12 2015

Time: 7:05 p.m. CT

Arena: Independence Events Center

TV: ESPN3

Gameday: @CometsMASL #BeatTheWave

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (March 15, 2015) - The Missouri Comets begin their quest to repeat as champions when they return to the Independence Events Center eighteen days after wrapping up a perfect 20-0 regular season when they host the Milwaukee Wave. The one-game single elimination playoff match will be broadcasted nationally on ESPN3.

The Comets finished the inaugural season of the Major Arena Soccer League as the only undefeated team. On the other hand, Milwaukee finished the regular season second in the Central Division with an overall record of 13-7.

Both teams will be meeting in the playoffs for the fifth year in a row. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski's team leads the all-time playoff series 6-5. Last year, Missouri took the playoff series 2-1 on their way to winning the MISL title.

In addition, the Comets also lead the all-time series 17-6 after defeating the Wave twice this season. Last November 15, the Comets came back twice to defeat head coach Giuliano Oliviero's team 9-7 in the home opener before leaving the UV Milwaukee Panther Arena with an 8-7 shootout victory on New Year's Eve.

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Preview: Comets Open Playoffs on Thursday against the Milwaukee Wave

Comets shoot into City Open Division title game

It took eight months of rehabilitation, but on Saturday night in the City Section Open Division semifinals, Akil Hall Reese of Westchester finally got back on the basketball court after tearing a knee ligament last summer.

The senior guard made his first shot attempt of the season, a three-pointer in the first quarter. He made another three-pointer in the second quarter. It was a hint of what might be still possible, because the Comets are very much alive in the postseason after a 78-38 rout of Dorsey that earned them a spot in next Saturday's championship game at Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Westchester will play Fairfax, a 67-52 winner over El Camino Real in Saturday's second semifinal.

"I try not to get down on myself," Reese said. "Everybody said to stay positive and I'd be back. I wish I could have played all year, but I'm back for the playoffs. It feels real good."

Reese was a key player for last season's Division I runner-up team. He was cleared by his doctor to resume contact a week ago, and Coach Ed Azzam decided to hold him out until he got a week of practice. How much he'll be able to contribute the rest of the way will depend on his progress in practice.

"He played well," Azzam said. "He's still not 100%, but he's a smart player."

From a 9-0 start to a 16-point halftime lead to a 34-point margin after three quarters, the Comets (21-11) had little trouble against Dorsey (23-4) before a packed gym at Roybal High. Keith Fisher, a rapidly developing 6-foot-8 junior, finished with 21 points.

"We played real well," Azzam said. "They're a good team and our defense was excellent and we made shots. When we do that, we're tough to beat."

Lindsey Drew scored 22 points and Lorne Currie had 16 in Fairfax's win over El Camino Real. Drew and Currie took charge in the third quarter, leading an 11-0 surge to wipe out a two-point halftime deficit.

"We just picked it up," Drew said. "We knew weren't playing to our full potential. We wanted to come out strong and just win the game."

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Comets shoot into City Open Division title game