Comets Unable to Solve Syracuse

Looking for retribution from an earlier loss in Syracuse, the Comets wanted to apply a high pressure style of play and put this game away. Unfortunately, the Knights were ready for the pressure and countered it with several break-out attacks that left them with odd-man rushes against goalkeeper Boris Pardo. That and an unbelievable performance from Syracuse goalkeeper, Bryan O'Quinn, led to a 18-8 defeat of the Comets on Friday night.

Bryan Perez started the scoring for the Silver Knights four minutes into the game converting a pass from Andriy Budnyy. Cristiano found John Sosa three minutes later evening the score at two points each. The teams remained tied until the final two minutes of the quarter. Vahid Assadpour, trying to catch a streaking Knights forward, was called for holding and the Comets went on their first penalty kill of the night. Former Comets forward, Neto converted the penalty, putting the Comets down 4-2 at the first break. The Silver Knights, who previously had not scored a power play goal this season, converted three tonight, two of them from Neto.

Coming out of the break, the Silver Knights employed a very aggressive strategy that consisted of knocking the Comets speedy, skilled players off the ball or into the wall. Several times Comets players were taken down as they advanced play. When fouls weren't called, the Knights once again found themselves with more players than the Comets had defenders. Andriy Budnyy took advantage of this for two scores in the second quarter. Jamar Beasley joined his former Comet brethren scoring in the second, right before Bryan Perez got his second of the night. At halftime the Comets were down 12-4.

The two teams traded goals back and forth in the third quarter. Vahid Assadpour and Byron Alvarez each scored within thirty seconds of Syracuse goals. The Comets had several other chances, but Syracuse's goalkeeper, Bryan O'Quinn, was everywhere as he finished with 25 saves. At one point, the Comets rattled off six shots on target within a ten second span. O'Quinn was able to fly through his goal box and get in between every shot. Budniyy finished off the scoring with 41.5 seconds left in the third quarter before the Knights fell into a defensive shell in the fourth quarter. Neither team scored in the final frame and the final score was 18-8 in favor of Syracuse.

The Comets have to shake this off as they face the league leading Baltimore Blast tomorrow night at 6:00pm CST. Fans can watch the game online at MISLNation.com or at the Comets Nation sponsored Watch Party at Coach's Bar and Grill.