Lazers Lose to Express in Overtime, 6-5

When new Lazer Coach Keith Tozer took over the team last week, he said it needed new direction.

In the early going of Saturday’s game against the New York Express at the Forum, it looked as though Tozer had given them that direction, until they blew a three-goal lead and lost in overtime, 6-5, before an announced crowd of 3,293.

After two goals by Zizinho and one by Stuart Lee early in the first quarter, the Lazers fell back, content to play defense, only to see the Express tie the game and send it into overtime.

One minute into the extra period, Mark Liveric, who scored three goals, took the rebound of a shot by Alex Tarnoczi and kicked the ball past Lazer goalkeeper David Brcic, giving the Express their first road victory of the year and snapping their nine-game losing streak.

The Lazers (6-19) have lost a club-record nine straight.

Leading, 4-2, at the end of the third quarter, the Lazers had only to play careful defense and keep the ball out of their zone as much as possible. They did neither.

Liveric made it 4-3 when he scored an unassisted goal 4:41 into the fourth quarter. Keder tied the score less than 30 seconds later and the Lazers were in danger of falling behind.

They jumped ahead, however, 5:42 into the final quarter on Lee’s third goal, but shortly after that Tarnoczi beat Brcic to send the game into overtime.