Comets beat Wave 10-5 in first game of division series

The Missouri Comets took a 10-5 win over the Milwaukee Wave in the first leg of the divisional series. The two teams will face each other again Sunday evening at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena for game two (and three if needed).

Milwaukee took an early lead just four minutes in when Sean Totsch scored on a powerplay but the Comets responded with four goals to have a 4-1 lead at the end of the first. A goal for the Comets and a pair for Milwaukee took it to halftime with the Comets up 5-2.

The third quarter saw six goals with the Comets getting the first two and then the Wave responded before the Comets added another pair.

By the fourth it was just time for the Comets to manage the game with lone goal added three minutes in to the last quarter.

With five goals from Leo Gibson, a pair from Max Touloute and goals from Ramone Palmer, John Sosa and Bryan Perez the Comets outpaced the Wave 10-5.

Missouri Comets head coach Vlatko Andonovski downplayed the question of whether his team dominated the game.

"We did well or at least well enough to win the game. We deserved the win but it was a battle all the way through. We knew that if we had any little let down they could score a couple goals and come right back. That is Milwaukee, they are experienced, they are organized, they can take advantage of little mistakes. We just played disciplined enough and didn't give up to many chances."

Gibson had five goals and was easily the man of the match but Andonovski  again played it low-key.

"I knew he scored several goals but I did not realize he scored five until now when you just told me. I'm very happy with that but that just shows the mentality I have as a coach and also that the team has. We are happy for Leo and we are happy we scored goals but we don't count or care who scores as long as we get the W at the end."

With another match versus Milwaukee Sunday, will Andonovski and the Comets change anything up for Sunday?

"We don't need to change anything up, we have been successful the way we played in the last several games and we are playing fairly good soccer."