Goal by Hirmez Gives Lazers Win at Tacoma, 3-2

Waad Hirmez’s goal 4:15 into the fourth quarter stood up as the game-winner Friday night as the Los Angeles Lazers defeated the Tacoma Stars, 3-2, in a Major Indoor Soccer League contest at the Tacoma Dome.

Hector Marinaro assisted on Hirmez’s goal as Los Angeles snapped a 4-game losing streak. Tacoma pulled its goalkeeper for a sixth attacker with 2:46 remaining but didn’t score.

Tacoma outshot the Lazers, 10-4, during the scoreless first quarter. The Stars broke the ice when Godfrey Ingham took a crossing pass from Preki and scored at 4:43 of the second quarter.

Los Angeles tied the score, 1-1, on Gary Heale’s 10th goal of the season, off Michael Collins’ assist at 6:06 of the second quarter.

Both goalies figured in the next two goals. Tacoma’s Ali Kazemaini blocked the ball into the goal 31 seconds before halftime while the Lazers’ Jim Gorsek was trying to clear it.

The Lazers tied the score, 2-2, at 4:37 of the third quarter when Tacoma goalie P. J. Johns momentarily stopped a rising shot by Mark Frederickson. But the ball popped out of Johns’ grasp and into the goal.