Lazers Close In on Playoffs With 9-4 Win
The Lazers may not win a championship this season, but they have shown they are a legitimate contender and appear headed for the playoffs.
With a well-balanced attack and strong defensive support, the Lazers handily beat the Minnesota Strikers, 9-4, Friday night to close out their schedule against Eastern Division teams with a 13-7 record.
Before a Forum crowd of 7,452, the Lazers (26-24) enjoyed their second straight blowout against a first-place team--they beat the San Diego Sockers their worst defeat ever, 8-2, on March 27. Any combination of Lazer victories or Wichita losses that total three will put the Lazers in the playoffs for the first time since the 1984-85 season. There are six games left in the season.
“We’ve got playoff fever and we’ve got the confidence to beat any team,” Lazer Coach Keith Tozer said.
After the Lazers opened a 7-2 lead early in the fourth quarter, the Strikers scored on goals by David Byrne and Hector Marinaro. The comeback was short lived, however, as Lazer goalkeeper David Brcic stopped several shots before Chris Whyte and Thompson Usiyan scored for the Lazers to put the game out of reach.
“David (Brcic) was great in goal,” Tozer said. “He kept us in the game until we got our composure back.”
Brcic made 19 saves, including several at close-range during the Strikers’ comeback attempt.
“We’re just playing a lot more aggressively now,” he explained. “Our defense has become more aggressive and we’ve become a lot more confident.”
Offensively, the Lazers received two goals from Usiyan, Paul Child, Jim Gabarra and Chris Whyte.
The Lazers needed just 20 seconds score their first goal as Mark Frederickson made a brisk pass to Usiyan, who easily beat Lettieri from 25 feet.
The Strikers got even 5:00 into the game on Allan Willey’s 40th goal of the season, but the Lazers came back with goals from Frederickson--his sixth--and Whyte to lead, 3-1, at halftime. Marinaro scored his first goal 20 seconds into the third period before the Lazers put the game out of reach.
The Lazers will try for their third consecutive victory tonight at 7:30 in the Forum against the third-place Tacoma Stars.
“We’re 1-6 against the Stars,” Tozer said. “But we’ve got our momentum going and we want Tacoma.”
The Strikers (27-22) have now lost three straight but remain atop the East, leading the Dallas Sidekicks by one game.
Lazer Notes
The Lazers have added Ali North, an 18-year old from Kabul, Afghanistan, to their roster. “I want to come to the United States and play this game,” North told Tozer. “I hope to earn enough money to send for my family and my camel, Rambo.”
