The Kansas City Comets launch the 2025-26 MASL campaign in rivalry fashion, opening the I-70 Series presented by Success on the Spectrum with a home-and-home matchup against the St. Louis Ambush.
The season begins on Black Friday as the Comets travel to the Family Arena for a 5 p.m. kickoff. Kansas City then returns home for its 2025-26 home opener Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena.
After last year’s injury-ridden finish and early playoff exit, the Comets enter the new season focused, healthy, and reinforced with one of the league’s deepest rosters.
Comets Outlook
Kansas City is led once again by Reigning All-MASL First Team forward Rian Marques, coming off a 44-point explosion (24 goals, 20 assists). Marques is joined by premier goalscorer Dom Francis, the former Harrisburg Heat standout with more than 150 career goals and a successful 2021 loan stint in Kansas City. All-Star Zach Reget also returns to full strength, looking to replicate his 2023-24 output as the MASL’s leading scorer.
The midfield has been fortified as well, with David Stankovic (15 goals as a rookie with Texas) and Marcel Berry returning from long-term injury. Henry Ramirez, Lucas Sousa, and Leo Acosta all return to complete a dynamic midfield core.
Defensively, the unit remains one of the league’s best. MASL Defender of the Year Chad Vandegriffe anchors the back line after posting a league-leading 81 blocks. Captain Nacho Flores brings leadership and intensity, while Guerrero Pino (All-MASL Second Team) and Phillip Ejimadu (All-MASL First Team goalkeeper) round out a proven defensive foundation.
Kansas City will be without Junior Kazeem (AC joint), while Stefan Mijatovic (hamstring) and Joe Wainwright (knee) remain doubtful. Rian Marques will serve a one-game suspension Friday but returns for Saturday’s home opener.
Scouting the Ambush
St. Louis looks to flip recent history in the I-70 rivalry, where Kansas City has claimed the series in three straight seasons and won 13 of the last 16 meetings—each Ambush win coming in overtime.
The Ambush rode a late-season surge into last year’s playoffs, winning five of their final six games and outscoring opponents 53–38 during that stretch.
Key returners include scoring threats Duduca Carvalho and William Eskay, along with league assist champion Lucas Almeida (24 assists). Defenders Christian Briggs and Raphael Araujo return as well, while former Comet James Togbah re-enters the rivalry after signing with St. Louis in the offseason.
Injury concerns linger, with James Thomas and Briggs both questionable. Former Utica City FC forward Keaton Woods is listed as probable for a possible Ambush debut, joined by Colin O’Keefe (leg) and Araujo (foot).
Home Opener Information
Tickets for Saturday’s Comets home opener at Cable Dahmer Arena are available at kccomets.com/tickets. Fans attending the game will receive a 2025-26 magnet schedule upon entry.
About the Major Arena Soccer League
The Major Arena Soccer League is the premier professional indoor soccer league in the world, featuring franchises across North America and players representing more than 50 countries. The league operates as a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the sport and business of indoor soccer.
GET ALL OF YOUR LOCAL AND NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS AT WWW.NATIONALSOCCERNETWORK.COMKANSAS CITY COMETS 3 - 7 ST LOUIS AMBUSHEMPIRE STRYKERS 5 - 4 SAN DIEGO SOCKERSST LOUIS AMBUSH 3 - 8 KANSAS CITY COMETS
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