Haaskivi Leads Cleveland Over Lazers, 5-2

RICHFIELD, Ohio — Kai Haaskivi scored two goals and added an assist as the Cleveland Force defeated the Los Angeles Lazers, 5-2, before a crowd of 13,081 Friday night in a Major Indoor Soccer League game.

Haaskivi, among the league’s leading scorers with seven goals and seven assists, helped Cleveland raise its record to 4-3 and increase its all-time series edge over the Lazers to 13-1. Los Angeles fell to 3-2.

The first quarter ended in a 1-1 tie as Carl Valentine of Cleveland and Paul Kitson of Los Angeles each scored.

Cleveland went ahead for good at 6:03 of the second quarter when Gino DiFlorio headed a shot off the boards and the ball rebounded into the middle of the penalty box, from where he scored.

In the third quarter, Haaskivi’s first goal put Cleveland ahead, 3-1. Cle Kooiman then scored for the Lazers.

The Force clinched the game on goals by Benny Dargle and Haaskivi in the game’s final 1:03 as the Lazers pulled the goalkeeper for a sixth attacker.

Force goalkeeper Chris Vaccaro evened his record at 2-2. Davis Brcic slipped to 3-2.

Lazer midfielder Beto suffered a sprained left knee and is expected to miss the remainder of the Lazer trip, against unbeaten Baltimore and then Dallas.