Comets sweep Ambush

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News 


Kansas City Comets president/general manager Brian Budzinski does not own a crystal ball.

He doesn't need one.

The amount of hard work he and coach Stefan Stokic put together in the offseason is paying some high dividends.
 
Before the start of the season, Budzinski watched his team practice at the Soccer Down in downtown Kansas City.

He was intent on disecting the spirited practice, as it offered the same intensity fans might expect from a regular-season game.

When it concluded, Budzinski shook his head and said, "The 10 most talented players in the league might be on the field right now, practicing against each other."

He might be right as the Comets opened the season with a 7-3 win at St. Louis and then topped the Ambush 8-3 Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena.

"When I took over as coach, I had a three-year plan," Stefan Stokic said after  the home victory Saturday night. "After our first two games, we have the talent and the depth to make a have a great season and to make a serious run in the playoffs. We've never had depth like this, and there are so many talented players on our roster."

Stefan Mijatovic, Rian Marques and Mikey Lenis did not play in the season opener and Dom Francis, Nacho Flores and Lenis did not play Saturday.

"We had some outstanding players on the sidelines Friday and Sunday, and I believe that type of depth is going to be a key to our success this season," Stokic added. "We hope to have a healthy roster for every game this season because of our depth."

Midfielder Christian Anderaos started the season with a bang as he had four goals and an assist in the weekend sweep against the Ambush.

"I'm here for whatever Coach needs," Anderaos said, as he signed autographs for a group of young fans. "I played midfield the first three quarters and was a defender in the fourth. The entire team is off to a great start, and our depth and talent are two big reasons for our 2-0 start.

"No one wants to let anyone down. We're playing for Coach and each other. And looking at the big picture, I think this is going to be an amazing year."

Forward Zach Reget, a scoring icon in the MASL, also had four goals and an assist in the first two games. 

And he was pumped up after the hometown win.

"I am not saying this to be disrespectful, but we are not going to let St. Louis win a game this season," Reget said, as the Comets took a 2-0 lead in the Missouri Cup series. "I have a lot of friends and players I respect on the Ambush, but this year's team is unbelievable. We're off to a 2-0 start, we have outscored them 15-6 and our goal is simple - we're going to work hard to win our next game. That's all we need to think about - winning that next game. Then, we can prepare for the next game and the next game and the next."

Lesia Thetsane (10) and reigning MASL Defender of the Year Chad Vandegriffe (6) combined for 16 blocks in the first two games, and are part of a defense that has never wavered.

"We've allowed six goals in the first two games, and most of them have been off set plays," Vandegriffe said. "There are some things we need to clean up - but I've been a team with this much depth. We score eight goals tonight without Mikey, Nacho and Dom - that's the type of depth we have."

Marques, who missed the first game, serving out a one-game suspension that resulted from the 2024-2025 playoffs, had two goals came back with a vengeance Saturday night with two goals and an assist.

He honored his young son Adriano by placing a pacifier in his mouth following goal No. 1.

"That goal was dedicated to Adriano," a smiling Marqes said as he held his son after the big win. "It's so great to be back. Watching last night's game in St. Louis was hard to watch. I wanted to be out there with the boys."

Another key to the team's success this season in the play of goalkeeper Phillip Ejimadu, who leads the MASL in point allowed (3.0) and wins (2-0).

"The win was big in St. Louis, but nothing tops a win in front of our fans," said Ejimadu, who answered questions and signed autographs for a group of youngsters. "We play in front of the best fans in the league, and we want to give them something to cheer about."

The Comets are 4-1 against their cross-state rival in opening day games and 10-6 in career season openers.

Kansas City is on the road this weekend, playing at Baltimore Saturday night and Utica City Sunday afternoon.

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Kansas City Comets goalkeeper Phillip Ejimadu signs autographs for young fans following an 8-3 victory over St. Louis at Saturday night's home opener. Ejimadu leads the MASL in wins (2), goal against average (3) and point allowed (6 in two games). Photo credit: Bill Althaus