Comets sign two, lose two

The Kansas City Comets announced the signing of forward Felipe Abreu to a one-year contract on Wednesday. In addition, sources have indicated that the Comets have also re-signed defender Ray Lee.

This news comes after the organization announced the signing of Nick McDonald ahead of their regular season-opening win in Dallas.

Abreu participated in the opening two matches of the Central Cup, but missed the second half against the Ambush due to an apparent injury. In the six quarters of action, Abreu committed two fouls and got a two-minute penalty for tripping against the Ambush.

Abreu played his college soccer at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. After his collegiate career, the Brazilian played for local semi-pro team Santa Fe Wanderers in the United Premier Soccer League. Abreu currently serves as an assistant coach at Avila University under Comets forward Robert Kelly, who serves as the Eagles’ interim head coach.

Ray Lee is a Kansas City native that has played over a hundred games in the USL Championship, most recently with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Lee played twelve games adding ten goals with four assists as a defender for the Comets last season before leaving to join his USL side. The Comets are hopeful that he can play the full MASL season with an unknown schedule fir USL.

Lee is a very good signing for the Comets, with his size and skill he can play up top or on the back line and brings a wealth of experience to a young Comets side.

Departures

The signing of Abreu and Lee has been met with the departures of defender Robert Palmer and forward Gui Gomes. Gomes did not appear in any games this season while Palmer’s final game as a member of the Comets was his participation in the MASL All-Star Game. Palmer has since signed to play with the Ontario Fury.

Palmer’s departure is especially significant considering the loss of his eight seasons of experience. Signing with the Comets after playing four years at Park University, Palmer was apart of the Comets teams that went to the MISL Championship in 2012/13 and 2013/14, winning the title in 2013/14. He was also with them in their undefeated regular season campaign in 2014/15, scoring a memorable goal to win the game in overtime in Monterrey. Palmer also won the Central Division in 2015/16 and 2016/17 with the Comets. Palmer ends his Comets career with 56 goals and 38 assists in 147 games.

Gomes leaves the Comets after four seasons with the organization. Gomes, a graduate of Benedictine College, gradually improved throughout his career, ending it with 14 goals and five assists in 48 games.

The latest official roster news puts the Comets roster at 20 players, with nine of the 20 players (45%) having less than one season of MASL experience. The addition of Lee will change that percentage a bit.

Lee is scheduled to travel and Abreu could get his first chance this weekend when the Comets travel to Lakeland, Florida for a doubleheader against the 2-0 Florida Tropics.