Lazers Need Overtime to Defeat Tacoma

The Los Angeles Lazers survived a big scare Friday night when forward Juan Cardenas scored in overtime to give them a 4-3 Major Indoor Soccer League victory over the Tacoma Stars before 4,470 fans at the Forum.

The Stars, after a foul by Lazer midfielder Greg Ion with just seven seconds left in regulation play, took a power-play situation into overtime.

The Lazers, however, with fine defensive play and the goal by Cardenas, were able to kill the penalty and get the victory.

“We tried hard to give this one away,” Lazer Coach Peter Wall said. “Maybe we stole this one, but we’ve lost a lot this way and deserved this one.”

The Lazers took a 3-1 lead going into the fourth quarter, but it was quickly erased as Tacoma defender Lou Stojanvic put the ball in the net just :57 into the period. Tacoma forward Preki then took a pass from forward Mark Peterson at 2:45.

Though outshot 20-18, the Lazers killed all three power-plays against them, the most important in overtime.

“Our special teams kept us going tonight,” Wall said. “It was the first time we’ve done well in special situations.”

The Lazers opened the scoring 6:18 into the first quarter when midfielder Beto took a pass from forward Batata out of the air and drilled it into the net from about ten feet out. The goal was only one of two shots the Lazers took in the period, but it was enough for the Lazers to lead at the end of the period.

The Lazers made it 2-0 at 7:32 in the second, when forward Poli Garcia scored a long goal, which was just out of reach of Tacoma goalie John Baretta. The assist went to goalie Tim Harris.

Preki then tightened the gap with a hard shot into the top left corner of the net.