Lazers Lose Playoff Opener to Kansas City, 9-6

The Lazers made it to the playoffs this season largely because of their aggressive style of play, but at times that has caused them trouble.

That was the case in their playoff opener Friday night as the Kansas City Comets took advantage of the Lazers’ over-aggressiveness, scoring a record five power-play goals while winning, 9-6, before 5,112 fans at the Forum in Game 1 of the best-of-five Major Indoor Soccer League Western Division semifinals.

The loss snapped the Lazers’ three-game winning streak, which, according to Coach Keith Tozer, had them “brimming with confidence.”

The Comets’ victory, highlighted by three-goal performances by both Barry Wallace and Jan Goossens, came on the heels of four straight losses to close out the regular season, and will send them back to Kansas City with at least a split.

Game 2 will be played at the Forum tonight at 7:30.

Despite the score of Friday night’s game, the Lazers were by no means out of it until the waning moments. It was 6-6 with less than three minutes to play.

The tie was broken when Goossen scored on a power play.

After that, the Lazers pulled goalkeeper A.J. Lachowecki, who was playing the second half. He replaced David Brcic, who left the game at halftime with a back strain.

“We wanted to hang in there and we did,” said Kansas City Coach Dave Clements of his team’s plan. “Then in the last minutes, our guys got a gleam in their eyes and put the game away.”

There were a total of 17 penalties and 34 minutes assessed the two teams. Kansas City’s five power-play goals set a MISL record. The Lazers scored one goal in seven man-advantage situations.

“The penalties didn’t make a difference in the outcome,” Tozer said. “We just couldn’t get into the flow of the game.”

Both teams opened the game in an aggresive manner, at times too much so, as 23 fouls and seven power plays were assessed in the first period alone.

The Comets were the only team to capitalize on the man-advantage in the period, however, as Dale Mitchell scored with two minutes left, after the Lazers put too many men on the field.

The Lazers got even 6 minutes into the second period after a flagrant tripping call gave Chico Borja a penalty shot, which he hit to tie game at 1-1.

The Comets got a goal from Goossens 24 seconds later, but Borja scored his second and Jim Gabarra his first to give the Lazers a 3-2 lead midway through the period. Borja finished with three goals and an assist.

Penalties again hurt the Lazers, however, as their sixth foul opened the door once again for Kansas City. Dale Mitchell found the mark 12:23 into the second period for his second goal, both on the power play, to tie the game, 3-3, at halftime.

“They’re an excellent team,” Tozer said of the Comets. “We had a lot of confidence, but they just (put the game away) at the end.”