THE MILWAUKEE WAVE CLAIM SUCCESS AGAIN IN KANSAS CITY; ALVAREZ CONTRIBUTES FIVE POINTS IN ROAD WIN.

By Henry Amini.

MILWAUKEE, WI - A new streak of success is being built for the 7-Time champion Milwaukee Wave under head coach Marcio Leite as the Wave defeat the Comets on the road for the second time this season.

Milwaukee Wave 8 Kansas City Comets 7
BOXSCORE | GAMESHEET | REPLAY

The Milwaukee Wave met the Kansas City Comets at Cable Dahmer Arena in Kansas City, Missouri on Sunday for each team’s first game of the MASL game week. 

The scoresheet opened in the seventh minute of the game when Nacho Flores scored a power play goal. Back at full strength, Alex Steinwasher equalized the game for the Wave with a touch inside of the yellow line and a far post finish. A second blue card came soon after when goalkeeper William Banahene left his box and caught Dominic Francis with a late slide tackle. Zach Reget would score from the successive free kick putting the Wave behind 1-2. The first quarter score sheet would conclude with Max Ferdinand’s goal, assisted by Mario Alvarez. 

“If you have been around any of the training sessions, you'll see how hard they train,” Leite said, praising his team’s training attitude leading into their first game of the new year. The Milwaukee Wave were without significant offensive pieces in this game. In the absence of two time MASL MVP winner Ian Bennett and prolific attackers Ricardo Carvalho, Oscar Flores, and Andre Hayne, the Milwaukee Wave relied on their young arsenal of weapons for their trip to Kansas City. 

The Comets were the first to score in the second quarter when Michael Lenis got in behind the Milwaukee Wave defense less than three minutes in, putting the Comets ahead 2-3, the last time they would lead in this game. Soon after, Alex Sanchez claimed the ball near the boards and found a darting Alvarez for the equalizing finish. The next goal was created when Javier Steinwasher travelled end to end, drawing a foul inside the Comets’ defensive third. Sanchez would score directly off of the kick, pushing the Wave ahead 4-3. Amongst the handful of standout performers, William Banahene amounted himself 24 saves, including an acrobatic double save in the second quarter. 

“We're not getting away from our style of play,” Leite said. The Milwaukee Wave were electric in transition and took 13 more shots than they did in their home win against the Empire Strykers. 

The game would be tied again early in the third quarter by Reget and Sanchez responded shortly after with a left-footed scorcher from the yellow line. The Wave would further extend their lead when Derek Huffman assisted Alvarez off of the boards for his second goal of the game. This was the fifth point Alvarez contributed to the competition in a well-rounded offensive performance. Lesia Thetsane would bring the scoreline to 6-5 before the end of the quarter. 

“[Alex Steinwasher] has been our most consistent player… he can be our best player, sometimes without getting any points,” Leite said. Alex Steinwasher was responsible for three points against the Comets. 

The fourth quarter was a family affair for the Steinwashers when Alex assisted his older brother Javier on back-to-back goals, giving the Milwaukee Wave their largest lead of the game at 8-5. The Kansas City Comets would respond with two goals and the lead would sit at just 8-7 for a significant portion of the quarter before the Comets employed a sixth attacker. The Wave defended well and Banahene made two crucial saves in the final two minutes to close out the win. 

“I'm happy for them because everything they're doing is definitely playing off,” Leite said, appreciating the results of his team’s hard work as they get closer to the halfway point of their season. 

The Milwaukee Wave return home to face the historic San Diego Sockers at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday, January 17 at 6:05pm CST. 

The Milwaukee Wave will have a rematch against the Kansas City Comets at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Sunday, January 18 at 2:05pm CST.

Tickets are on sale online at MilwaukeeWave.com or in person at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Box Office one hour prior to kickoff.