The St. Louis Ambush host the cross-state and Central Division rival Kansas City Comets Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 7:05 p.m. CT at the Family Arena in St. Charles.
Whenever these rivals meet, the ferocity is often intense, but both teams are coming off three-game losing streaks, so Saturday’s match promises a heightened level of competition. Saturday’s game is the third of four between the Ambush and Comets this season. The final showdown is slated for next Friday, February 9, 2018 at 7:35 p.m. CT at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena in Independence, Missouri. The Comets won the two previous duels.
The Ambush have been eliminated from playoff contention for the 2017-18 season. The Comets, although not yet numerically eliminated, would face a tough road, with a 4-11 record, to overcome the 8-8 Cedar Rapids Rampage for the second playoff spot. The Milwaukee Wave have already clinched the Central Division title.
The Ambush will be without the services of their top scorer. On Sunday, the team announced that midfielder Clayton “Pedaleira” Matheus would miss the remainder of the season due to a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). At the time, he was the team’s leading scorer with ten goals.
The Comets added a familiar face to their roster Janaury 25 when they signed veteran goalkeeper Jeff Richey. Richey has played for the Chicago Storm, Rockford Rampage, Chicago Riot, Chicago Soul, Milwaukee Wave and Cedar Rapids Rampage. Richey was also the starting goalkeeper for the 2013-14 St. Louis Ambush, appearing in 17 games.
Following Saturday’s contest at the Family Arena, the Ambush and Comets go at it again in the February 9 matchup. The next night, Saturday, February 10, the Ambush return home to the Family Arena to host the Cedar Rapids Rampage at 7:05 p.m. CT. Prior to theFebruary 10 game, the Ambush will salute 30 seasons of professional indoor soccer in St. Louis with an alumni game featuring previous St. Louis Steamers, St. Louis Storm and St. Louis Ambush players taking the field against former players from other MISL and NPSL teams. The Alumni Game is slated for 5:00 p.m. and a ticket for the Ambush-Rampage game includes admission to the Alumni Game as well.
