Comets face Dallas and Harrisburg on road trip

The Comets kick off a tough road trip tonight. They play the Dallas Sidekicks (0-0) at 7:35 p.m. CT tonight and the Harrisburg Heat (0-1) at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday.  Back-to-back games are never easy and with the travel thrown in the Comets face a tough task.

"We've been preparing for this type of season, it's nothing new," Comets veteran John Sosa stated. "Obviously road trips like this are never easy but we are comfortable that we are fit enough and prepared enough to get in front of it and come out with two wins. "

Sosa does not see Harrisburg being a second year team making it any easier for the Comets. "Both games are going to be really tough, both of them are experiencing their home openers so I am sure they will come with the same mentality," Sosa explained. "Obviously the second game will be a little more challenging because they don't have a game the day before like we do and we will be coming in after a game and traveling."

"We are all in shape," Sosa continued. "We're professionals and we had a very good preseason and a good week of work after the tough game on Friday.  So we fixed some of the mistakes we made in that first game."

This will be the Sidekick's first match of the season so Comets head coach Vlatko Andonovski does not have much info to prepare with. "It's hard. With Harrisburg I could see the video of them playing Detroit but it is hard to tell," Andonovski admitted.

"It is part of what makes it fun, there are so many unknowns," Andonovski added. " You just go and play your best every game."

The match can be watched at Go Live.

Comets credit "never give up" mentality for comeback win

In the season opener, the Comets traded leads with Cedar Rapids until the fourth quarter and the Rampage ended up with an 8-5 lead with a few minutes left. The Comets inserted Lucas Rodriguez as the sixth-attacker but it took until less than three minutes left before the home team started chipping into the lead.

Ramone Palmer, Leo Gibson and finally Rodriguez scored the equalizer to send it to overtime. Robert Palmer scored the game winner in sudden death overtime although that was not without controversy.

"I told the boys after the game that there is only one thing we can be happy with," Andonovski said after the match. "One thing we can be proud of and that is their heart and never quit mentality. This town is known for a never quit mentality, from the Royals to Sporting KC to FC KC and the Comets. That is what it is, Midwest, blue-collar mentality and I am glad that we carry that inside out hearts."

Recently returned Rodriguez agreed. "It's obviously not the way we wanted the first game to start but the team showed heart and that never giving up attitude is showing and like coach said that is something we can be proud of."

"Now everything else has to be fixed. You can only win so many with that mentality. You have to do well on the defensive side first and foremost and of course we have to be a little more clinical on the offensive side," Andonovski added.

The overtime question

In the Comets win over Cedar Rapids, the clock was set to 15 minutes instead of 10 and the Comets scored past the 10 minute mark. The match should have ended and went to a shootout. The Rapids protested the match but the MASL rules committee determined that no advantage was gained and the match would stand.

According to the league, the appeal is going before the Executive committee and a decision has not been determined.

Notes:

The Comets have John Sosa back. The veteran defender/midfielder was suspended for a match but was also called up to the U.S. Futsal team.

Brian Harris is back from his time with the U.S. Futsal team as well but is still suspended from last season. The Comets had appealed the suspension in hopes of getting it reduced but the appeal was unsuccessful.

Kiel Williams will probably miss the match as well as he was still experiencing visa problems.

Alain Matingou is doubtful.