Lozzano Fills Galaxy’s Need for Some Defensive Versatility
It’s easy to see that Lawrence Lozzano is the new guy in the locker room. He keeps referring to the Galaxy as “they” rather than “we.”
Traded to Los Angeles last week by the San Jose Clash in exchange for forward Harut Karapetyan, Lozzano, 28, has come full circle. His soccer career began just down the 605 Freeway at Gahr High in Cerritos.
After that he played for the California Emperors in Redlands, where Galaxy Coach Octavio Zambrano was an assistant coach, and then for the Los Angeles Salsa.
His professional break came when he was signed by Tampico in Mexico’s second division, after which Major League Soccer lured him north to play for the Dallas Burn in 1996.
After one season he was traded to San Jose, which moved him from defender to forward, the position he had played at Gahr and in Mexico. On Monday, he arrived in Los Angeles as a versatile addition to the Galaxy, which plays the Kansas City Wizards at 7 tonight at the Rose Bowl.
“Coming from a losing team to a winning team, the first day I walked in here I could totally see the difference,” Lozzano said Tuesday at the Rose Bowl. “When you’re on a losing team, people were always on edge and angry. Here, it seems like one group and everyone gets along great. They made me feel comfortable and welcomed me to the team.”
The Clash is 9-14, last in the Western Conference. The Galaxy is in first place with an 18-6 record and can clinch a playoff spot with one more victory.
It might take Lozzano a while to break into the lineup. He is hampered by a slight hamstring strain and needs to learn the system. The Galaxy also has the most potent offense in the league (68 goals in 24 games), so Lozzano might need to adjust to playing a different role.
“I was the center forward in San Jose,” he said, “but with the attack the Galaxy has here, I knew there would have to be a different avenue for me to get in the starting lineup this late in the season.
“As a player, I love scoring goals, but if [Zambrano] asks me to play a defensive role, obviously, I would accept it.”
While pleased to have acquired Lozzano, Zambrano is less pleased to have lost Karapetyan.
“I think it needs to be said that Harut was the driving force behind this trade,” Zambrano said Tuesday. “I wanted Harut to stay and I had several conversations with him about staying with the team and how important he was to add depth to our offense.
“But he repeatedly showed how unhappy he was as a non-starter and the situation became unmanageable to the point that I had to grant Harut’s wishes.
“I think he’s a bona fide good player and I think he does have a case [about being good enough to start for other MLS teams], but this is the Galaxy. Here, you have to know your role and it’s not going to be just the way you want it. It hasn’t been for any of the players.”
Lozzano, meanwhile, is being welcomed warmly.
“He’s a player we had pursued when he was with Dallas,” Zambrano said. “I’ve known him since he started his professional career in 1989-90. I know what he can do and I think he’s a great addition to our team. He’s a much more mature player now and I think he has the versatility that is important to a team like the Galaxy.”
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New York-New Jersey 3, Columbus 1--Jim Rooney scored the tiebreaking goal on a header in the 75th minute and the MetroStars (13-10) won before 12,117 at East Rutherford, N.J.
The Crew (10-12) could have taken over second place from the MetroStars with a victory in regulation.
