Kansas City Comets take vital win to end Orlando SeaWolves play off hopes
Kansas City Comets defeated Orlando SeaWolves 7-6 at Silver Spurs Arena on Friday night to secure a play off place and end the home teams hopes of making the play offs in their inaugural season.
The two sides traded blows in the opening quarter and with the visitors needing one win in its final three games to extend their season, it was no surprise to see them setting the pace. Veteran Leo Gibson (pictured above) opened the scoring with a trademark volley that left SeaWolves goalkeeper Rainer Hauss absolutely no chance. The goal extended Gibson’s scoring streak to eight consecutive games.
Two minutes after the opening goal Derek Huffman found himself wide open and he confidently slotted home past Comets goalkeeper Mark Saxby to level things up. The visitors then added a second goal before the quarter ended as Lucas Rodriguez lobbed Hauss to make it 2-1.
Orlando needed a fast response in the second quarter and they got it as Captain Joshio Sandoval blasted a shot into the top corner to make it 2-2. Sloppy defending by the SeaWolves then saw the Comets launch a three on one offense and when Kevin Ellis found Ramone Palmer in open space, the result was a third goal for the men in white.
Gordy Gurson then leveled things up with his 30th goal of the season as the half ended 3-3
The second half started poorly for Orlando, as they conceded three goals in the third quarter to fall down 6-3. A poor turnover from the SeaWolves saw Anthony Grant convert and worse was to come for the home side as Kevin Ellis then gave the Comets a two goal advantage two minutes later. Ellis then finished off the third quarter from a power play goal, adding on to the team’s league best .667 power play percent.
The SeaWolves started the final quarter on the comeback trail as Osvaldo Rojas brought Orlando back within two less than a minute into the fourth quarter. The home side turned up the pressure and Huffman and Gurson both went close with shots that bounced off the crossbar but Comet’s Nacho Flores was able to add his name to the scorecard as Kansas restored their three-goal cushion with ten minutes left in the game.
Orlando was not beaten yet though and with the sixth attacker advantage, Gurson netted his second goal of the night and then an own goal from Kansas reduced the deficit back to one with just six seconds left to play. It was too little too late and the SeaWolves were dumped out of contention for a play off place. With the win, the Comets have now clinched a spot in the playoffs for the eighth time in nine years.
Orlando will travel to Milwaukee to play the Wave on Sunday the 31st, with kickoff set for 2:05 P.M.
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