NEWS ARTICLES

COLORADO COMETS BECOMES AN UNDER 23 TEAM.

The Colorado Comets semi-professional soccer team announced that it would field a much younger team this year. As of May 22, 2000 the Comets will only be permitted to have a restricted number of players on its roster who are over the age of 23. Head Coach Marc Francis explained "we do not want to eliminate all the overage players as we believe that the younger high school and college players benefit from playing with older ex-pros such as Chris Edwinson and Mark Perdew". While the Comets open their season on April 15 against the Colorado Springs Ascent, the restriction on the age of players will not come into effect until May 22. This is largely due to the fact that younger players are largely not available until this date due to their college and youth soccer commitments.

The Comets are actively recruiting younger players both from within Colorado and throughout the country. Ryan Carruth who led St Lawrence University to a NCAA Div III National Championship will be returning as will Matt Harrell who played for University of Denver last year. The Comets hope to be able to sign other major college stars in the next few weeks.

During the early part of the season the Comets will rely on it "old guard" of players such as Mark Perdew, Brent "Zico" Ward, Rafael Amaya, Kevin Horn, Brad Vik and the Kayali brothers Maher and Mazen.

The Comets are now in the Rocky Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the PDL. The Division will be made up of three Colorado teams (Comets, Colorado Springs Ascent and Boulder Nova) as well as the Kansas City Brass and the Wichita Jets.

Reprint of Rocky Mountain News Article (Wed., Feb. 11, 1998)
byline: Alan Pearce
Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Comets take up where Foxes left off

Amateur minor league team to use greyhound track as its home base

It's tough to count out minor league soccer in Denver. On the hells of the end of the Colorado Foxes' eight-year era, a new lower-level team has surfaced.

The Colorado Comets are the new team in town and will play in the Premier Development Soccer League of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues. The Colorado Rapids play at the Division I level, and the Foxes were at Division II.

The PDSL is the nation's highest amateur level, two slots below the Foxes.

The Comets will play in the same league as the Colorado Springs Stampede. The Comets open their 1998 season May 1 and play a 20-game schedule, including four U.S. Open Cup games. The home opener is May 8 against the Twin Citites Tornadoes. Marc Francis is the Comtes' head coach and general manager.

"This will give college, amateur and even high school players exposure and the opportunity to play at a high level," Francis said. "They can play against and learn from ex-professional players."

Even top-level professional soccer has not been a financial success in Denver, but Francis doesn't sound worried.

"I think we will get a crowd," he said. "Our ticket prices are going to be very cheap ($8 reserved, $6 general admission, $3 for youths under 16). Plus, any ticket is good for any game."

The Denver area recently lost the Foxes. The team was sold late last year, renamed the Flash and moved to San Diego.

However, the Comets will play in the same venue as the Foxes, Mile High Greyhound Park in Commerce City. The Comets are owned by Wembley USA, which owns the Greyhound Park and convertied it into a part-time soccer facility with about 9,500 seats. Information: 288-1591.

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