MASL: Tacoma hands Kansas City second straight defeat
- Dan Stickradt
- Mar 24
- 3 min read
(Have photos to go with this story? Email pics to Web and Content Editor / Director of News Dan Stickradt at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and also list the photo credit as well.)
NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
BY KANSAS CITY COMETS COMMUNICATIONS
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – The Tacoma Stars literally helped take the Kansas City Comets out of the regular season MASL race.
Tacoma handed the Comets their second straight loss Sunday night, taking a 5-3 lead into the fourth quarter before holding on for a 5-4 triumph at Cable Dahmer Arena.
It marked Kansas City’s second straight loss, leaving the race for the regular season MASL title between the Chihuahua Savage and
Chris Roth made 20 saves in 24 chances, while Nick Perera had a goal and two assists for Tacoma. Alex Caceres scored what proved to be the game-winner at the 12:45 mark of the third quarter off a feed from Perera.
Tyler John, Michael Ramos and Perera scored in the first quarter to stake the Stars to a 3-0 lead and Tacoma would never trail in the contest. Cale Spence also scored, Willie Spurr had two assists and Chris Toth added a helper for Tacoma.
Tacoma put the Comets into the early hole with the three goals in the first quarter. Tacoma’s Tyler John opened the scoring in the second minute with a powerful shot into the top corner. Michael Ramos doubled the lead off a rebound from a blocked restart, and goalkeeper Chris Toth assisted Nick Perera’s 17th goal of the season with a cross-field pass off the glass for the 3-0 advantage.
Kansas City responded in the second quarter when former Stars standout Stefan Mijatovic blasted in a left-footed strike 2:19 into the period. The Comets outshot Tacoma 9-8 in the quarter but failed to capitalize further.
The Stars regained a three-goal cushion in the third when Spurr split the defense and set up Spence for his first career goal. Ramone Palmer pulled one back for Kansas City, but Caceres restored Tacoma’s lead at 5-2. Nathan Durdle answered late in the third to bring the Comets within two.
Kansas City kept pressing in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 5-4 when Chad Vandegriffe forced in a goal-line scramble at 9:55 of the final frame. The Comets dominated the fourth period, outshooting Tacoma 21-0, but failed to find the equalizer.
With the loss, Kansas City dropped to 14-6-1 (44 points), sitting third in the standings. The Comets can no longer finish second and risk falling as low as fifth depending on results from Baltimore and Milwaukee.
The Comets wrap up the regular season on the road against Utica City FC on Friday and Baltimore Blast next Sunday before the playoffs begin April 4-6. Fans can reserve seats for next season at discounted rates through March 31 at kccomets.com/tickets.
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(Have a story suggestion for the Premier Media Group and the National Soccer Network regarding club/youth soccer, high school varsity, amateur soccer, collegiate soccer or professional soccer involving teams, players or coaches with ties to a particular state or states, contact Web and Content Editor/Director of News Dan Stickradt via email at dstickradt@thepremiermediagrp.com and news@nationalsoccernetwork.com, or call 248-525-2349. Dan Stickradt is a 32-year veteran of the Michigan and national media circles and recently joined the staff full time at PMG in March of 2024. Want to schedule a broadcast game or live show, contact PMG/NSN Director of Broadcasting Jonathan Turner for availability and pricing at jonathan@thepremiermediagrp.com.)
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