Published on January 30, 2026 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Empire Strykers News Release
Independence, MO – The Empire Strykers had their three-game win streak snapped by the Kansas City Comets on Friday evening, falling 6-3 away to the Major Arena Arena Soccer League (MASL) giants and dropping to 5-7-0 (wins-losses-draws) on their 2025-26 campaign. The fiercely contested affair at Cable Dahmer Arena, which was led 2-1 by Empire at the break, saw Kansas City earn all three points by battling back in the second half and outscoring the visitors 5-1. Comets forward Rian Marques dominated on attack, bagging three goals and one helper.
Replays showed that both assists on a pair of netters by Kansas City’s Michael Lenis had been incorrectly awarded to Christian Anderaos. Lenis’ goals were unassisted.
The home side opened the scoring just under a third of the way into the first quarter. Having received the ball from Guerrero Pino with his back to the goal, Marques turned to his right while expertly flicking it up to himself, followed by a clinical volley inside the far post. With just over five minutes left to go in the period, the Strykers leveled the score at 1-1, Mounir Alami’s drive on a Polo Hernandez restart being tapped home at the right post by defender Filipe Dutra. The equalizer marked rookie Dutra’s first ever MASL goal.
In a second period that at times resembled a chess match – with Empire controlling much of the possession and the Comets daring their opponents to break them down – the Strykers did jump out on top 23 seconds from the break. Recent signing Qudus Lawal displayed impressive skill as he took down a chipped Stinson pass off the boards in the left corner, turned toward the goal, and sent a right-footed drive underneath ‘keeper Phillip Ejimadu from a tight angle.
Nearly halfway through the third quarter, Kansas City tied the game at 2-2, Michael Lenis scoring on a deflected shot from inside the penalty area. The hosts grabbed the advantage shortly thereafter, as Marques sent a brilliant pass across the face of the goal from the left. Lesia Thetsane had little trouble converting from the doorstep on the right. Empire netminder Brian Orozco nearly tied the score back up when he sprinted across the midfield stripe and rifled a right-footed bullet off the inside of the left post.
Instead of another equalizer, the Comets made it three straight tallies at the other end. In a moment of controversy, Marques’ pressure on Orozco paid…