Milwaukee Wave lose New Year's Eve game to defending champion Missouri Comets

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The six-time champion Milwaukee Wave lost to the defending champion Missouri Comets Wednesday afternoon, December 31st at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, 8-7.

“The guys showed a lot of character tonight. Anytime you play the defending champs, it’s a game you have to be up for. I think we got beat on a technicality tonight. I hope the Major Arena Soccer League takes a serious look at the rulebook,  see’s how other leagues do it around the world and follow suit. Overall, we are treating tonight’s game huge positive and look forward to the Rochester Lancers on Saturday night," Head Coach Giuliano Oliviero said.

Only scoring two goals in the first; goals from #15 Tony Walls and #77 Marcio Leite and being shut-out in the second and third quarter, the Wave looked to rebound in the fourth.

The Wave needed to get a quick goal in the fourth to stop the Comets momentum. #10 Luan Sales Oliveira found the back of the net, followed by a goal from #26 Ian Bennett and two goals from #29 JC Banks. The Comets did take lead back with a goal from #10 Bryan Perez. But with 5 seconds left in the game, #9 Mike Lookingland sent a long ball into the box and found the feet of #10 Luan Oliveira to tie the game at 7 with 1 second left.

With no goal scored in overtime the game headed into a shoot-out. The first two shooters to the Comets; #14 Leo Gibson and #10 Bryan Perez and the Wave; #26 Ian Bennett and #77 Marcio Leite could not score. The third shooter, Comets #7 Vahid Assadpour and Wave #10 Luan Oliveira both scored. The Comets got the win after #14 Leo Gibson, made the final shoot-out goal.

Next game is the Saturday, January 3rd at 6:05 against the Rochester Lancers at UW- Milwaukee Panther Arena.