The Harrisburg Heat will play their home opener Saturday, December 9, 2023 against the Kansas City Comets at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex. Gametime is 7:05PM.
This is the second game of the season for the Harrisburg Heat. The Heat lost the first game on the road in Utica by a score of 7-5. Heat goals in Utica were scored by five different players as Dom Francis, Malcolm Harris, Roshawn Panton, Alejandro Arbelaez and Joey Tavernese all found the back of the net. The Harrisburg Heat were pushing to score the tying goal when Utica clinched the game with a long open net goal with just five seconds remaining in the game. Grant Glorioso recorded 18 saves in the game.
Kansas City comes to Harrisburg with a record of 2 wins and no losses. The Comets have been impressive in their first two games as they have defeated the Milwaukee Wave by a score of 9-3 and the St. Louis Ambush by a score of 7-2.
Heat Returning Scoring Power From Last Year
The Heat return their top three scorers from last year in Malcolm Harris, Dominic Francis and Danny DiPrima. In addition, the Heat return experienced defensive players with Elton de Oliveira, Robbie Williamson and Brad Kerstetter.
Key off-season acquisitions included forward Joey Tavernese, defender Onua Obasi and goalkeeper Hugo Silva. Each of these players have achieved great success in the league. Tavernese is an eleven-year veteran of professional indoor soccer. Tavernese has played for five different franchises and has proven to be an excellent goal scorer on all of them. Tavernese previously played for the Rochester Lancers, Ontario Fury, Syracuse Silver Knights, Utica City FC and the Florida Tropics. Tavernese was named to the second team all-MASL team in the 2017/2018 season. Defender Onua Obasi has played six seasons in the indoor game playing for the Baltimore Blast, Utica City FC and the Ontario Fury. Obasi was a teammate of current Heat Head Coach, Pat Healey, on the 2016 Baltimore Blast team that won the MASL title. Goalkeeper Hugo Silva returns to the Harrisburg Heat where he played from 2016 to 2018. Silva has been the starting goalkeeper for the Florida Tropics for the past five seasons. Silva was a finalist in the Goalkeeper of the Year award in the MASL for the 2019/2020 season.
Due to visa issues with Hugo Silva, Grant Glorioso will start the season as the number one goalkeeper for the Harrisburg Heat. Last year’s starting goalkeeper, Chase Vosvick, has not returned this season as he has decided to pursue graduate school. Glorioso was obtained by the Heat in the 2022 MASL Combine. Glorioso played three games for the Harrisburg Heat last season and had a goals-against average of 6.19 per game.
As well as Hugo Silve, visa issues also are preventing Lesia Thetsane, Davinson Diaz, Daniel Villela, and James Vaughan from starting the season with the Harrisburg Heat.
Match Preview
Head-To-Head
This is the first of two meetings scheduled between the Harrisburg Heat and the Kansas City Comets for the 2023/2024 season. The second game will be in Kansas City on January 6th. Last year the Kansas City Comets defeated the Harrisburg Heat in both games played between the two teams.
Harrisburg Players To Watch
Dominic Francis returns after leading the Heat last season with 14 goals. Francis is a former league all-star.
Joey Tavernese is a free agent acquisition for the Harrisburg Heat this year. Tavernese played for Utica City FC last season before ending the season with the Florida Tropics. Tavernese led Utica City FC in scoring in the 2021/2022 season with 19 goals and 29 points. Danny DiPrima, Captain of the Heat, returns after recording 17 points last season with the Heat.
Kansas City Comets Players To Watch
John Sosa is a MASL all-star. He currently leads the Comets with 6 points including 2 goals and 4 assists.
Zach Reget, a current member of the US National Futsal Team, leads the Comet with 4 goals.
Nicolau Neto is an outstanding goalkeeper for the Comets and he enters the game with a goals-against average of 2.50.
Injury Report – Harrisburg Heat
Malcolm Harris – Out – Personal
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