Kansas City Comets indoor soccer team kicks off 2023 MASL season on Sunday: details

The Kansas City Comets had a busy offseason and are finally set to open the 2023-24 Major Arena Soccer League season on Sunday at Cable Dahmer Arena against the longtime rival Milwaukee Wave at 5 p.m.

The first significant move of the offseason was hiring Stefan Stokic as the successor to Leo Gibson as head coach. Stokic served as a Comets assistant coach for three years and was with the Comets for 11 of his 12 years as a player.

The Comets also made three potentially game-changing player acquisitions. First, they signed free agent and 2022 MASL Defender of the Year Chad Vandergriffe. They later signed Phillip Ejimadu, a goalkeeper who can challenge for the starting position.

And last week the Comets completed a trade to bring back 2021 MASL Defender of the Year Robert Palmer, who previously spent seven years with the Comets.

Ejimadu and Palmer displayed their skills during a private preseason exhibition win over the Dallas Sidekicks. The Comets’ defense held star forward Blas Perez scoreless. Perez is a Panama soccer legend who played in MLS and Mexico’s Liga MX.

While admitting the Comets should have been better in the attacking phase of the game, Stokic was pleased with his team’s defense.

“I’m a firm believer that if you want to win a championship, you win it by defense,” he explained. “Offense wins you games, but defense wins you championships. I was really happy with that.”

The additions of Palmer and Vandergriffe should give the Comets a solid defensive foundation this year alongside returning veterans John Sosa, Ray Lee and DeBray Hollimon.

The Comets also have dangerous attacking threats in Zach Reget, Lucas Sousa, Rian Marques and Gibson.

Comets begin season Sunday

The Comets now turn their full attention to the season opener against Milwaukee this week.

It will be the only time these two sides meet all regular season.

The Wave will offer a tough test as the reigning conference champions led the East in averaging 6.4 goals per game last season. The Comets have had their number recently, posting an 8-4 record against Milwaukee over the past two seasons and winning all six games at Cable Dahmer Arena.

The Comets’ home opener is only the start of a tough schedule that sends the team on a tough six-game road trip in January. The Comets will host nine different opponents throughout the season.

Sunday’s match will be broadcast live locally on 38 the Spot. Tickets are available for all 12 home games at www.kccomets.com/tickets.