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The Kansas City Comets return from Florida riding a six game win streak after defeating the Tropics 7-6 Friday. The victory moved the Comets into sole possession of first but Cedar Rapids can catch them again with a victory Sunday.
The Comets and Tropics traded goals in the first half with Kansas City taking the lead initially when Alain Matingou put a rebound home past Marcel Feenstra. The Tropics had recently signed veteran Feenstra since they were without their regular keeper for a game. Despite not playing for quite a while Feenstra showed few signs of rust.
After Matingou’s goal, the Tropics leveled it up a couple minutes later. The Comets regained the lead when Bryan Perez played a perfect restart from the corner to Odaine Sinclaire for a tap in. Again the Tropics responded, this time in less than a minute.
The Tropics took a lead with less than a minute left in the first quarter and this time is the Comets responded quickly with a restart header from Lucas Rodriguez.
The second quarter mostly went Florida’s way with the Tropics getting a 5-3 lead and the Comets unable to get one past Feenstra. With Comets on a power play and numerous attempts turned aside, Ramone Palmer received the ball in the box and instead of shooting slid it out to Perez who punched it home to make it 5-4 at the half.
It took most of the third quarter but goals from captain Vahid Assadpour and Perez put the Comets back in the lead 6-5.
Kansas City added to the lead when Perez dug the ball out of the corner and bounced it across to Ramone Palmer in the box for goal number 7.
The Tropics fought back with a sixth-attacker and was able to narrow the lead but Kansas City earned their sixth straight win, fourth straight one goal game.
Friday was Ramone Palmer’s birthday and he enjoyed it on the field with a goal and four assists. Perez had a great night as well a pair of goals and a pair of assists.
The Comets next is against the Ambush in St. Louis next Saturday, February 4th at 7:05 p.m. CT before returning home to face the Dallas Sidekicks on February 11th at 7:05 p.m. CT.