Juice Boxes and Post Game Stats: One Season Ends, Another Begins

As Sporting Kansas City’s season came to an end on Sunday night in Houston, the Kansas City Comets were kicking off their 2023-2024 season in Independence against the Milwaukee Wave. Sporting’s season ended with a 1-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo while the Comets kicked their season off with a strong 9-3 win over the Milwaukee Wave. Here are the stats and milestones from the two games Sunday.

Sporting KC

Daniel Salloi, Erik Thommy, and Remi Walter played in 42 of KC’s 43 competitive games across all competitions this year. That’s tied for the most games played in a single season with Seth Sinovic and Oriol Rosell in the 2013 season.

Walter made his 100th start in all competitions for KC, he’s the 38th player to reach that mark.

Thommy made his 50th appearance in MLS competitions, he’s the 84th player to reach that mark.

In the 84th minute, Salloi passed Jack Jewsbury and moved into 13th place all time for minutes played in MLS competitions. He finished the game with 14,041 minutes played.

Salloi made his 153rd start in MLS competitions, tying him with Mo Johnston for 14th all time on that list.

Salloi and Johnny Russell made their 11th playoff appearance for KC, tying them with Aurelien Collin and CJ Sapong for 17th all time on that list.

Russell made his 156th start in MLS competitions, breaking his tie with Benny Feilhaber for 12th all time on that list.

Russell made his 11th playoff start for KC, tying him with Johnston and Collin for 15th all time on that list.

At 37 years, 100 days, Graham Zusi came the 4th oldest player to appear in a game for KC in all competitions.

Zusi and Roger Espinoza made their 21st playoff appearance for KC, breaking their tie with Preki for 3rd all time on that list.

Espinoza made his 7th substitute appearance in the playoffs for KC, breaking his tie with Davy Arnaud and Francisco Gomez for the most all time.

Tim Melia made his 248th appearance in MLS competitions, breaking his tie with Nick Garcia for 6th all time on that list.

Melia made his 248th start in MLS competitions, breaking his tie with Garcia for 5th all time on that list.

Melia made his 14th playoff appearance for KC, breaking his tie with Peter Vermes for 14th all time on that list.

Melia made his 14th playoff start for KC, tying him with Espinoza and Matt McKeon for 10th all time on that list.

KC Comets

Comets

At 40 years, 109 days, Leo Gibson became the 2nd oldest player to play a game for the Comets in league play or in all competitions.

Ray Lee’s goal was KC’s 200th at home against the Milwaukee Wave in league play.

Lee’s goal was his 38th in league play, breaking his tie with Adam James for 16th all time on that list.

Lee’s goal gave him 71 goals/assists in league play for KC, tying him with Geison for 13th all time on that list.

Ignacio Flores’s 2 goals gave him 54 goals in league play for KC, moving him ahead of Robert Palmer and into 9th place all time on that list.

Flores’s 2 goals gave him 61 goals in all competitions, breaking his tie with Lucas Sousa for 9th all time on that list.

Lucas Sousa’s goal gave him 54 goals in league play, braking his tie with Robert Palmer and moved him into a tie with Flores for 9th all time on that list.

Robert Palmer’s assist was his 34th in league play, breaking his tie with Ray Lee for 10th all time on that list.

All KC Indoor

I’m going to start including stats for all three Kansas City professional indoor teams in their history, utilizing stats acquired from Stats Crew in their indoor soccer section for the original KC Comets, KC Attack, and KC Comets II.

John Sosa’s 3 assists gave him 227 in all competitions for KC, moving him ahead of Goran Hunjak and into 5th place all time in KC’s indoor history.

Sosa’s 4 goals/assists gave him 310 in league play for KC, moving him ahead of Brian Haynes and into 8th place all time in KC’s indoor history.