Missouri Comets News Release -- www.missouricomets.com
Saturday, November 26, 2011
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- The Thanksgiving weekend was good to the Missouri Comets after a convincing 19-9 win against the visiting Norfolk SharX. Five different players had goals and nine players scored a point overall on the night. Leading the way was Geison with two goals (one of them a 3-pointer) and an assist for a six-point night. Right behind him was Stefan Stokic, who had five points, and Vahid Assadpour, who had four. League MVP Byron Alvarez also kept his 10-game points-streak alive with four points, and a halftime marriage proposal to boot.
The SharX came into the Independence Events Center still looking for their first win of the season and the Comets were determined to make sure it didn’t happen in their home arena. Alvarez got things started just over a minute into the game after heading home a cross-field pass from Coady Andrews, putting the Comets up 2-0. But Norfolk's Gersen Dos Santos tied things up a few minutes later and Brady Bryant’s 3-pointer on a power play actually gave the SharX a 5-2 lead. That was only the second lead the team had held this season, and it would be their last of the night.
Stokic collected an errant defensive clearance and buried his first goal of night, a 3-pointer, to tie the game at 5-5. Stokic then added a short-handed goal before Dos Santos answered for the SharX in the second quarter, and the two teams went into the locker room at halftime tied 7-7.
Fans were treated to a special surprise during halftime as Alvarez and the Comets staff planned an elaborate scheme to bring his girlfriend, Jenni, on the field. Thinking she was participating in a halftime contest, she was led blindfolded onto field and, with the help of fans, directed to the midline. There, the blindfold was removed and she saw Alvarez on one knee with flowers and a ring. Fans cheered as she answered Alvarez's proposal with a resounding “OF COURSE!”
Whether it was the halftime engagement or Coach Kim Roentved’s halftime adjustments, the Comets came out for the third quarter firing on all cylinders. Geison added to his team-leading goals total with a pair of goals, one from 3-point range, in the third quarter. Another 3-pointer from Assadpour gave the Comets a 15-7 lead with 15 minutes to go as the Comets outshot the SharX 15-0 in the quarter.
The Comets cruised through the fourth quarter, controlling most of the play. Neto and Alvarez each added goals, while Norfolk’s Cecil Lewis was able to get the SharX on the board, but it was not nearly enough as the Comets walked away with a 19-9 win.
The Comets have two games this week, making their first trip of the season to Milwaukee on Friday night at 7 p.m. Fans can catch all of the action at the Official Watch Party Location of the Comets, the Brewtop Pub and Patio in Lee’s Summit or on MISLLiveSoccer.com. The Comets then return home next Sunday to take on the Syracuse Silver Knights at 3:10 p.m. The US Marine Corp will be on-hand collecting new and unwrapped toys for their annual Toys 4 Tots program. Tickets are available by calling the Independence Events Center Box Office or going to Ticketmaster.com.