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Kansas City Comets (founded 2010)

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Kansas City Comets
Founded2010
StadiumCable Dahmer Arena
Capacity5,800
OwnersGame Theory Ventures LLC[1]
Managing partnerBrian Budzinski
Head CoachStefan Stokic
LeagueMajor Arena Soccer League
2022–235th, Eastern Division
Playoffs: Play-in Round
Websitehttp://www.kccomets.com/

The Kansas City Comets are an indoor soccer team based in Independence, Missouri, near Kansas City. Originally called the Missouri Comets, the team joined the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team in the 2010–2011 season. They play their home games at the Cable Dahmer Arena and are currently members of the Major Arena Soccer League.

History

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The team is named after the original Kansas City Comets, who played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1981–1991. Kim Røntved, a former Kansas City Comets star, was named the head coach on August 16, 2010.[2] Assistant Coach Vlatko Andonovski was promoted to Head Coach on August 29, 2013, succeeding Røntved.[3]

Early years (2010–2013)

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The first couple of seasons saw the Missouri Comets establish themselves in the MISL. They finished third with an 8–12 record in 2010–11, falling to the Milwaukee Wave in three games in the playoffs. In 2011–12 the Comets finished second in the Central Division with a 15–9 record but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs again by the Milwaukee Wave. The Comets finished 2012–13 in third place with a 13–13 record but made it all the way to the championship series, where the Baltimore Blast swept the series in two games.

In his first season as head coach, Vlatko Andonovski brought the Comets their first championship, defeating the Baltimore Blast in a three-game series in the final season of the MISL. In all four seasons as members of the MISL the Comets reached the playoffs, and won the championship on their fourth playoff appearance. This would be the final MISL championship.

Move to MASL (2014–present)

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After the 2013–2014 season, the team announced that it was leaving the MISL along with five other teams and join the MASL.[4] In the debut season of the MASL in 2014–15 the Comets went undefeated with a 20–0 record, ending the regular season with a league-best 239 goals and a +149 goal differential, but were swept by the Baltimore Blast in the second round of the playoffs. The Comets won the following season's Central Division with a 17–3 record before falling once again to the Baltimore Blast in the postseason.

Before the 2016–17 season, the team announced that they would be rebranded as the Kansas City Comets.[5] As Goran Karodzov took the reins as head coach, the Comets still managed to finish second in the Central with a 15–5 record before the Milwaukee Wave swept the first series in the playoffs. Following the 2016–17 season, the organization's future was in limbo.

With player turnover and the return of Kim Røntved as head coach, the Comets ended the 2017–18 season with a 7–12 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Røntved and the Comets returned in 2018–19 with greater improvements and the return of several veterans alongside former owner Brian Budzinski. In 2018–19 they returned to the playoffs with a 13–11 record in the South Central Division before being swept by the Milwaukee Wave in two games in the first round of the playoffs. Kansas City faced some inconsistent results throughout 2019–20 and were eliminated from playoff contention before the season was abandoned due to COVID-19, ending the season with a 10–11 record.

The Comets organization persevered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to help host the first-ever MASL all-star game in December 2020. After the all-star game, the Comets claimed the first inaugural Central Cup championship with wins over the Dallas Sidekicks, St. Louis Ambush and Wichita Wings.

In 2022–23, the Comets hired Kansas City native Jenna Winebrenner as an assistant coach, making her the first female coach in MASL history.[6]

Year-by-year

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Year League Reg. Season Playoffs Attendance Average
2010–11 MISL 3rd MISL, 8–12 Lost Semifinal 4,017
2011–12 MISL 2nd Central Division, 15–9 Lost Division Final 4,092
2012–13 MISL 3rd MISL, 13–13 Lost in Finals 4,237
2013–14 MISL 3rd MISL, 14–6 Won Championship 4,180
2014–15 MASL 1st Central Division, 20–0 Lost in Conference Finals 4,452
2015–16 MASL 1st Central Division, 17–3 Lost in Conference Finals 3,892
2016–17 MASL 1st Central Division, 15–5 Lost in Division Final 3,720
2017–18 MASL 3rd Central Division, 7–15 DNQ 3,644
2018–19 MASL 2nd Central Division, 13–11 Lost in Division Final 1,988
2019–20 MASL 6th Eastern Conference, 10–11 DNQ 2,871
2020–21 MASL 3rd MASL, 7–5 Lost in Semifinals not recorded due to COVID-19
2021–22 MASL 1st Central Division, 13–9 Lost in Semifinals 2,533
2022-23 MASL 5th Eastern Conference, 11-13 Lost in Play-In Round 4,355
Total 130–92
Win % = .586 		8–14
Win % = .364 		4,030

Honors

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  • MISL Champions: 2013–14
  • Central Division Champions: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021-22
  • Central Cup Champions: 2020,[7] 2021

Franchise leaders

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Regular Season

  • Appearances: Leo Gibson (213)
  • Points: Leo Gibson (504)
  • Goals: Leo Gibson (259)
  • Assists: Leo Gibson (245)
  • Wins: Danny Waltman (63)
  • Saves: Danny Waltman (1,351)

Postseason

  • Appearances: Vahid Assadpour (34)
  • Points: Leo Gibson (40)
  • Goals: Leo Gibson (27)
  • Assists: John Sosa (17)
  • Wins: Danny Waltman (5)
  • Saves: Danny Waltman (172)

Total

  • Appearances: Leo Gibson (243)
  • Points: Leo Gibson (544)
  • Goals: Leo Gibson (286)
  • Assists: Leo Gibson (258)
  • Wins: Danny Waltman (68)
  • Saves: Danny Waltman (1,523)

Head coaches

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References

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  1. ^ Dornbrook, James. "Group led by 26-year-old sports economist buys Comets". Kansas City Business Journal. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Former Comets Star Kim Roentved Set to Lead Team". Archived from the original on September 25, 2010.
  3. ^ "Comets Appoint Andonovski As Coach". MISL. August 29, 2013. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2013.
  4. ^ Graham, Glenn (14 April 2014). "Baltimore Blast joining with other teams to form new indoor soccer league". baltimoresun.com.
  5. ^ http://pointstreaksites.com/view/masl/news/news_461170[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Sperry, Daniel (2022-12-10). "This KC Current player helps coach the Comets men's team. That's a 1st for their league". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2022-12-10.
  7. ^ Richmire, Pete (December 20, 2020). "COMETS SWEEP THEIR WAY TO CENTRAL CUP CROWN".
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