COMETS TAKE GAME 1 OF SEMIFINALS 20-6

INDEPENDENCE, MO (March 9) — The Missouri Comets' took Game 1 of the MISL semifinal series on Sunday with a resounding 20-6 victory, forcing the Wave to win Game 2 of the series plus the mini-game that would follow.

Monday's action begins at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

Leo Gibson scored five times and goalkeeper Danny Waltman was again superb for the Comets. Missouri was the only team to beat the Wave during the regular season, taking the season series 4-2 and beating Milwaukee twice in Milwaukee in the last two weeks of the regular season. Sunday, the Comets controlled the score, if not always the action.

Philip Suprise scored with 8:06 remaining to prevent the first shutout in Wave playoff history, but Milwaukee was never really a threat to win the first game. Hewerton, with a great bicycle kick, and Pablo added consolation goals in the final two minutes.

Missouri grabbed early momentum through Max Touloute and Gibson, each scoring within the first five minutes for a 4-0 advantage.

The second quarter saw Milwaukee create more good opportunities than the Comets, but get stymied at every turn. Waltman made at least one remarkable save during a power play in the first minute of the period, turning away a 3-point try bearing down on the far upper corner from Luan Oliveira.

Later in the quarter, still down 4-0, Fabinho made a sliding tackle to keep the ball out of an empty net, and at the other end Milwaukee saw the ball clang twice off the inside of the post but get denied.

Stefan St. Louis scored the only goal of the second with 4:44 remaining, tapping in at the back post after the Comets got ahead of the Wave following a foul at the other end.

In the third period with the score 8-0 and each team a man down, Milwaukee's Victor Quiroz stole the ball in the attacking half and slotted the ball toward and empty net. Waltman recovered from outside the area and appeared almost out of nowhere to dive and smother the ball.

That would be the Wave's last really good chance to make it a game, and when Gibson launched a 3-pointer from his own yellow line early in the fourth quarter, it was 13-0.

Waltman was credited with 21 saves as the Comets again held Milwaukee under 10 points, which they have done in all five victories against the Wave this year.

Tickets are available for “Monday Night Futbol” at the U.S. Cellular Arena, with prices as low as $7. Call the Wave office at 414-224-9283, visit Ticketmaster.com or come to the U.S. Cellular Arena box office.