STARS COME UP SHORT IN 8-7 LOSS TO COMETS

by Tony Roberts

KENT, WA. – The Stars (2-3) mounted a strong fourth-quarter comeback but came up a goal short to the visiting Kansas City Comets (7-1) by an 8-7 final Sunday evening at the accesso ShoWare Center

Kansas City came out on fire and jumped on the Stars with three straight goals to open the game. The first was in quick fashion as Leo Gibson found the back of the net for the first of his three goals on the night just 40 seconds into the game.

Then, Gibson connected with Nacho Flores with 9:48 left in the opening frame to put the Comets in front 2-0 early. It was just 40 seconds later when the Comets opened up a 3-0 lead on a Lucas Sousa marker, assisted by James Togbah.

It looked like Kansas City would hold the Stars scoreless in the first quarter before Alessandro Canale knocked in his first of the night with only three seconds to play in the first.

It didn’t take Sousa long to get his second of the game, scoring 47 seconds into the second quarter and the Comets were up 4-1 with 14:13 to play in the half.

After that, it was the Stars who went on a run, scoring back-to-back goals from Mike Ramos and Raphael Cox to narrow the Comets’ lead to 4-3 at the half.

With the Comets getting to early quarter goals in the first and second, the Stars took a turn and Nick Perera used an outlet pass from Stars keeper Danny Waltman to tie the game at 4-4 after only 12 seconds of the third quarter.

The Comets put a stop to the Stars run at that point and rattled off four in a row with one from John Sosa and Rian Marques, plus a pair from Gibson to quickly distance themselves with an 8-4 lead after three quarters of play.

Tacoma, however, was not done. After pulling Waltman in favor of the sixth attacker, three goals in under three minutes brought the Stars within one at 8-7 with 2:09 left to play.

The tying goal would not come for Tacoma though as the Kansas City defense kept the Stars from getting another good scoring chance and held on to win by that 8-7 margin.

Comets’ keeper Nicolau Neto stopped 14 shots with several key saves to secure his seventh win in goal.

The Comets and Stars will complete their home-and-home series Saturday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. It will be the first professional indoor soccer game in downtown Kansas City on over a decade.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – KC Gibson 0:40; KC Flores (Gibson) 5:02; KC Sousa (Togbah) 5:42; TAC Canale (Hollimon) 14:57. Penalties – None.

2nd – KC Sousa 0:47; TAC Ramos 10:37; TAC R. Cox (Caceres) 12:07. Penalties – None.

3rd – TAC Perera (Waltman) 0:12; KC Sosa 2:28; KC Gibson (Sosa) 3:08 pp; KC Marques (Sosa) 13:27; KC Gibson (James) 14:13.  Penalties – TAC Canale (blue- tripping) 0:37; TAC Correa (blue- boarding).

4th – TAC Perera 10:13; TAC Caceres (Perera) 11:45; TAC Canale (R. Cox) 12:51. Penalties – None.

Power Play – Comets 1/2, Tacoma 0/0

Shots – Comets 12, Tacoma 23

Attendance – 1,086

The Stars will be on the road for their next five games, but will return home for a weekend double-header with the Western Division leading San Diego Sockers on February 11th and 12th. Get your tickets to both games at tacomastars.showare.com today.

2021-2022 SEASON TICKETS NOW ON SALE! Call 1-844-STARS-84 or email info@tacomastars.com to get set up with your tickets or get more information.

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