Comets Drop Overtime Thriller to Savage 3-2

INDEPENDENCE, MO. -The Comets (8-6-4) and Savage (9-5-0) were locked in a defensive battle in front of 4,715 fans on Friday night at Cable Dahmer Arena before Chihuahua netted the game-winning goal 26 seconds into overtime to defeat Kansas City 3-2. Fittingly, both teams’ goalkeepers were named in the Three Stars of the Game with Kansas City’s Nicolau Neto stopping 15 shots and Diego Reynoso picking up 11 saves for the Savage.

Each team managed a goal in the first half of Friday’s game. The Comets struck first on a delayed penalty to Savage goalkeeper Reynoso. Ramone Palmer struck a shot from inside the box which was inadvertently knocked in by a Savage defender for an own goal that put Kansas City up 1-0 with 11:11 to play in the first quarter.

The Comets’ defense held the Savage scoreless until the final seconds of the first half. Roberto Escalante drove a shot off the far end boards and Brandon González was perfectly placed to get a shot past Neto to level the game at 1-1 with 15 seconds left to play in the half.

The Savage took their first lead of the game early in the third quarter when Cleberson Rodrigues sent a long inlet pass to the right corner and Enrique Cañez scored from a tough angle to go up 2-1 after three quarters.

Chihuahua managed to kill a penalty, but they were unable to prevent the Comets from tying the game in the fourth quarter. Nacho Flores found Zach Reget with a pass and Reget blasted a shot between the legs of Reynoso to tie the game 2-2 with 6:02 to play in regulation.

The Savage appeared to score the go-ahead goal later in the quarter only to have it disallowed after review by the officials and eventually regulation ended with the score even.

It didn’t take long for Chihuahua to end the extra frame though as González completed his brace and secure the win for the Savage just 26 seconds into overtime.

The Comets will hit the road for games in San Diego on February 25 and Empire on the 28th before returning home to face the Ambush on March 2. Get your tickets for the big game against St. Louis at www.kccomets.com before they sell out.

SCORING SUMMARY

1st – KC Ra.Palmer 3:49. Penalties – CUU Reynoso (bc- handling) 3:49.

2nd – CUU González (Escalante) 14:46. Penalties – None.

3rd – CUU Cañez (Rodrigues) 1:43. Penalties – CUU Escalante (bc- contact above the shoulder/elbow) 14:57.

4th – KC Reget (Flores) 8:58. Penalties – None.

OT – CUU González (Puentes) 0:26….