February 10, 2024 – Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) – Kansas City Comets News Release
The Kansas City Comets are set for another interconference battle for a second consecutive night as they play host to the Empire Strykers on Saturday evening. Two-time World Cup veteran Marco Fabian of the Strykers is looking for his first successful visit in his third trip to Kansas City, previously taking two defeats against Sporting KC.
It will also be a battle of first-year head coaches. Stefan Stokic is looking to correct the Comets’ season after a promising start. Indoor legend Paul Wright, who played four seasons under head coach Ron Newman with the San Diego Sockers and four seasons under Newman with the Kansas City Wizards, leads the Strykers in a year of great turnover.
Stokic and his Comets team are looking to resurrect their season and will try to end an eight-game losing streak. After sitting towards the top of the table for much of the season, the Comets are now fighting to retain a top-four seed to earn a playoff spot.
The Comets are coming from a shootout loss to the Tacoma Stars. After ending regulation tied 5-5 and neither team scoring in overtime, the Stars won the shootout 2-1 in four rounds.
The Comets will still be without leading scorer Zach Reget for a second straight match as he is with the U.S. National Futsal Team for camp in Argentina. DeBray Hollimon (left great toe sprain) is doubtful while Ray Lee (left knee effusion) is probable.
Robert Palmer, the first player in MASL history to reach 300 career blocks, is up against the team he helped to the 2021 Ron Newman Cup Finals and won his Defender of the Year with. He will be familiar with a few faces from the visitors, but the MASL’s all-time blocks leader will be ready to help the Comets to victory.
The Comets are 3-4 all-time against the Strykers, including the 2021 Ron Newman Cup semifinal series that the Strykers, then known as the Ontario Fury, took 2-1. This will be Empire’s second-ever visit to KC for a regular season game, winning the first one 11-8 in 2020. Both teams will meet in Empire on February 28.
The Strykers enter Saturday’s matchup with practically a complete overhaul. Former head coach Jimmy Nordberg has transitioned into a new role as executive vice president while Wright has taken over coaching duties of the new-look Strykers. Players such as Robert Palmer, Chris Toth, Uzi and Franck Tayou have departed the club.
Fabian headlines the incoming players from the Strkers’…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Indoor Soccer News…