Preview: Comets ready to battle with Mesquite Outlaws and Milwaukee Wave

Kansas City Comets vs Mesquite Outlaws — Saturday, December 10

Where | Mesquite Arena - Mesquite, Texas 

Stream |Twitch

Kansas City Comets vs Milwaukee Wave — Sunday, December 11

Where | Cable Dahmer Arena - Independence, Missouri

Local TV | 38 The Spot 

Stream |Twitch 

Tickets |Ticketmaster.com

After a week off, the Kansas City Comets (1-1) are back in action for Week 3 of the MASL with an away contest against the Mesquite Outlaws (1-0) on Saturday, December 10 before returning home to face the Milwaukee Wave (0-0) on Sunday, December 11.

In Week 1, the Comets utilized a robust defensive output to split a home-and-home series with the St. Louis Ambush. After losing in St. Louis 5-4 in overtime, the Comets grabbed a 4-2 win at home.

Defender John Sosa picked up where he left off last season, collecting five points from two goals and three assists. Lucas Sousa also has two goals and an assist while Mike Da-Silva has two assists.

Kansas City travels to the Lone Star State on Saturday for a meeting with Mesquite, who is back in the league for the franchise’s second season after missing the last two seasons.

The Outlaws have some good experience with indoor soccer legend Tatu leading as head coach. Veteran defender Pablo Da Silva is also back playing alongside several players that switched from the Sidekicks to the Outlaws over the offseason.

“Especially with everyone they acquired from Dallas, they have a lot of quality players, so it’s going to be a difficult game for us,” said Comets assistant coach Stefan Stokic.

The Outlaws are coming off a low-scoring 2-1 win over the Monterrey Flash. Goals from Axel Chakounte and Luiz Moralez, reigning MASL Rookie of the Year, were enough to hold off a late comeback from Monterrey. Mesquite goalkeeper Pollo Cortez saved 12 of 13 shots and earned MASL Defensive Player of the Week.

The only previous meeting between the Comets and Outlaws came in December 2019, a 5-4 Comets win in Mesquite. Stokic recorded three blocks in that battle, but he understands the team is much different now after watching Mequite’s win last week.

“They looked well-organized and brought a lot of energy. They played some good soccer,” Stokic said of Mesquite’s win last week.

The Comets will be without goalkeeper Nicolau Neto for Saturday’s matchup as he serves a one-game suspension. Out injured are Rian Marques (right ankle tenosynovitis) and Ray Lee (right ankle sprain) while Richard Schmermund (left quad strain) is questionable.

Without Neto available, Sway Mazon and rookie Steven Tekesky will be in the lineup. Mazon is in his first season with KC but has recorded 146 saves in 15 MASL games with the Ambush and Orlando SeaWolves. Tekesky, a former Sporting KC Academy player, signed over the offseason following a standout career at West Virginia University.

After the Comets play in Mesquite, KC will travel back home for a clash with the Milwaukee Wave on Sunday.

“It’s always going to be a battle when we play Milwaukee. It's always been a rivalry and it’s always a tough game to play, so we are expecting a very intense game with a lot of emotion,” Stokic added.

The Comets took last year’s season series against Milwaukee 4-2, winning all three contests played at Cable Dahmer Arena.

Milwaukee will be on the back end of two games in two days, opening their season Saturday evening at home against St. Louis.

Back-to-back MASL MVP winner Ian Bennett leads the Wave into the new season after scoring 50 goals last year. Milwaukee is also looking to improve defensively with the signing of goalkeeper William Banahene, formerly of the Harrisburg Heat.

Limited tickets are still available for Sunday’s contest at ticketmaster.com.