Lazers’ MISL Downward Spiral Continues as Wichita Wins, 8-6

To say that the Lazers are a team going nowhere fast would be wrong. Lately, they’ve done a pretty good job of going backward in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Friday night before an announced crowd of 4,575 at the Forum, the last-place Lazers were handed their sixth loss in the past seven games as the Wichita Wings got three goals from David Hoggan and two goals and an assist from Erik Rasmussen to win, 8-6.

The Wings’ victory was their fifth in six games against the Lazers this season. In the last three games alone they have outscored Los Angeles, 24-12.

Wichita (23-17) scored six times in the first half, with three of their four second-period goals coming on power plays. Lazer Coach Peter Wall pulled goalie Tim Harris in favor of Mike Mahoney after the Wings’ Mike Fox made it 6-1 with 5:11 left in the half.

Terry Nicholl and Barry Wallace also scored for Wichita, which is 6 1/2 games behind the Western Division-leading San Diego Sockers. Rasmussen’s two goals extended his league-leading total to 58.

Poli Garcia had a hat trick and an assist for the Lazers (12-27). Two of Garcia’s goals came in the last 2:03 of the game. Nathan Sacks scored twice and had an assist, and Greg Ion scored the other goal and had one assist.

The Lazers play at Pittsburgh on Sunday and at Cleveland on Wednesday before returning to the Forum on March 22 to play the Chicago Sting. That will be the start of a three-game home stand.