Lazers Rout the Sting Before 6,479 : Molano Scores Hat Trick for L.A. in 7-2 MISL Victory
The Los Angeles Lazers, led by forward Willie Molano’s three first-half goals, jumped all over the winless Chicago Sting and coasted to a 7-2 Major Indoor Soccer League victory Sunday night before 6,479 at the Forum.
The home-opener was the Lazers’ first victory of the season and gave them a 1-2 record, while the Sting fell to 0-3.
Lazer Coach Peter Wall, blaming the first two losses--each by one goal--on a combination of lack of concentration and the shots “just not going in the net,” was happy to see things finally go his way.
He thought things would change at home and they did. “The home opener is the time to get things working,” Wall said.
“We worked on strategy on the week we had off,” Wall said. “I knew we could score goals with the players we have. Willie (Molano) didn’t do much earlier, maybe he’ll start now.”
Molano wasted no time doing his part for the team.
“I still have things to learn,” Molano said. “But it sure felt good playing in front of our crowd.”
Former UCLA standout Tim Harris was equally outstanding in the net, turning away several fierce shots. He had 11 saves, many of them spectacular. “Harris has really come together for us. It’ll be nice to have two good goalies this year,” Wall said, referring to the Lazers’ other goalie, veteran Mike Mahoney.
The Sting opened the scoring with a power-play goal by defender Mark Simanton, as Sting defender Neill Roberts drew Harris to the ball then tapped a pass to Simanton, who drilled in an easy goal.
After that, the game belonged to the Lazers. Molano scored his first goal in a power-play situation as Chicago was struggling to clear the ball away from the net. Molano, taking the ball off Batata’s leg, nailed the shot into the net at 8:45 into the first period to tie the game. Batata got an assist.
From there the Lazers took command. Forward Batata, also on a power-play, scored from the left corner on an assist by defender Gus Mokalis to give the Lazers the lead. Molano scored again with a head shot on an assist off the glass by Poli Garcia at 5:37 of the second period. Then, Molano took an off-the-wall pass by Greg Ion, and put the ball in to complete the hat trick at 10:12 into the second period.
The Lazers led, 4-1, at the half.
The second half started much the same way as the first had ended.
Defender Cle’ Kooiman was credited with an unassisted goal just 1:25 into the third period, as the ball seemed to just roll into the net.
The Lazers, who outshot the Sting 25-16, made Chicago look as if they would have trouble beating any team, and Chicago Coach Willy Roy was disgusted at his team’s performance. “It takes a combination of things to win games, but tonight we fell flat on our noses,” Roy said.
After two more Lazer goals by newly added midfielder Kai Steffan and veteran Lazer midfielder Beto at 7:35 and 8:20 of the third period, respectively, last year’s scoring sensation Karl-Heinz Granitza added a Chicago goal at 14:14 in the third to close the scoring.
The Lazers’ next game is against Cleveland at the Forum on Friday.
