Punchless Lazers Defeated by Sting, 7-3

Los Angeles Lazers Coach Peter Wall said all his team needed in order to stand a good chance of beating the Chicago Sting at the Forum Wednesday night was good defense.

“The offense will take care of itself,” he predicted.

Not exactly.

The Lazers played solid defense, holding the Sting to a 1-0 lead at halftime, and 2-0 after three quarters.

The offense, however, failed to materialize, and the Sting won, 7-3, their third win in four meetings with the Lazers this season.

“We really never created anything,” Wall said. “When we got behind, we were not sharp, and that concerns me more than anything.

“This was out worst performance of the season. No question about it.”

In desperation, Wall jettisoned the defense with 6:32 to play, removing goalkeeper Mike Mahoney, and inserting a sixth attacker.

Los Angeles had managed its first goal, by Gus Mokalis, with 9:20 left to trail 3-1.

However, the Sting then scored twice to make it, 5-1.

The Lazer’s final two goals were scored by Juan Cardenas and Nathan Sacks.

Lazer Notes

Francis Dale, named Wednesday to replace Earl Foreman as MISL commissioner, has indicated he would like to move the league headquarters to Los Angeles and Chicago from Bala Cynwyd, Pa. Dale, a resident of Pasadena, celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary Wednesday and was not at the game. . . . Diego Castro, a former club player at USC, is playing in Germany now after two seasons with the Sting.