The St. Louis Ambush close out the 2019 calendar year when they welcome the rival Kansas City Comets to the Family Arena for a 3:05 p.m. CST matinee match Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
Tuesday’s game is the third of six meetings between the Ambush and Comets slated for the 2019-20 regular season. The season series is tied 1-1, with each team having won on their home turf.
Each team won their most recent outing with the Ambush defeating the Tacoma Stars 7-6 on December 27 at the Family Arena and the Comets defeating the Stars 9-2 the next night at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.
Forward Tony Walls has been a key component in the Ambush offense with five goals and an assist in his last two games. Forward JT Thomas has three goals in his last two games and forward Duduca has a point or better in his last four appearances.
Veteran Pablo Da Silva was added to the Ambush roster prior to last week’s roster deadline. Pablo previously played for the Ambush during the 2017-18 season. The ten-year indoor soccer veteran made an immediate impact in his first game back on December 27, assisting on three goals including Mike Scharf’s game-winner.
Between the pipes for the Ambush, goalkeeper Paulo ranks fifth in the league in save percentage (.717) and is one of only two goalkeepers in the league thus far to score a goal. He is the only goalkeeper in the league thus far to post both a goal (on November 30) and an assist (on December 15).
On the visitor’s side, player/coach Leo Gibson remains one of the most lethal offensive threats in the league. Gibson leads the Comets in points (14), goals (seven), assists (seven) and average points per game (2.3). He is also tied for third in the league in assists and is tied for fourth in the league in points. Gibson has scored in five consecutive games and has seven goals and give assists in his last four games. Defender Ray Lee has four goals in his last three games. Defender John Sosa is enjoying an eleven game offensive streak, having posted a point or better in every game dating back to March 17, 2019 last season. Comets midfielder Ray Saari has only two goals thus far this season, but both were game-winners.
Following Tuesday’s duel, the Ambush go on the road for their next three games, starting with two south of the border. The Ambush square off with the Sonora Soles on January 3 and the Monterrey Flash on January 5, followed by a trip to Milwaukee to tangle with the Wave on January 12. The next Ambush home game is slated for January 17, when Utica City FC invades the Family Arena.
Tuesday’s pregame festivities get underway at 2:00 p.m. with carnival games for the kids on the Family Arena concourse. After the game, everyone will be invited on the field for the New Year’s balloon drop. Single game tickets for the 2019-20 campaign are now on sale and can be purchased at the Family Arena box office or at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more can purchase their discounted tickets by calling the Ambush office at 636-477-6363.
