Comets Magical Season Comes To An End

The 2012-2013 Missouri Comets set some high goals for themselves at the beginning of the year.  They nearly accomplished all of them tonight after jumping out to a 4-0 halftime lead in Game Two of the MISL Championship against the Baltimore Blast.  The Blast scored four straight goals in the second half, and held off a Comets comeback attempt to become the 2013 MISL Champions.

After falling behind early in Game One, the Comets were determined to have a stronger start game.  Playing strong on both sides of the field, Missouri controlled possession for much of the quarter. With 5:02 remaining in the opening quarter Byron Alvarez put the Comets on the board.  In the second quarter a streaking Robert Palmer was heading towards goal when he was taken out from behind by Baltimore’s Max Ferdinand.  Byron Alvarez converted the resulting shootout opportunity and the Comets went into the halftime break leading 4-0.

The Baltimore Blast, playing in their third straight Championship Series, were not ready to go down easy.  Ferdinand, Tony Donatelli, Adriano Dos Santos and Lucas Roque rattled off four straight goals across the third quarter and first part of the fourth quarter.  With seven minutes remaining and the season in the balance, the Comets began a furious comeback attempt.  Byron Alvarez completed his hat trick, scoring his third goal with five minutes remaining to bring Missouri back to within 2 points, 8-6.

Inserting Vahid Assadpour as the sixth attacker with two minutes remaining gave the Comets many chances, but Baltimore goalkeeper, William Vanzela, came up with several game-preserving saves.  His performance earned him the 2013 MISL Most Valuable Player Award.

The Comets finish with a regular season record of 13-13 and a second-place finish in the 2013 MISL Playoffs.