Lazers Take Another From Sockers, 8-2 : Namdar Leads Rout as Team Sets Franchise Record for Victories

For the Lazers, who are closing in on their first Major Indoor Soccer League playoff berth in three seasons, Sunday night’s 8-2 victory over the San Diego Sockers at the Forum helps to make the pain of previous seasons go away.

The Lazers improved their record to 25-24, which broke the franchise mark for victories in a season, set in 1983-84 and matched in 1984-85.

Defenseman Cha Cha Namdar, a former Socker, was most responsible for the rout, scoring two goals and adding three assists, and forward Chico Borja had a goal and two assists. Borja has scored a point in 14 straight games.

The Lazers, who have won four of their last seven games, blew the game open by scoring three goals in a four-minute span of the second quarter and opening a 5-1 halftime lead.

With the win, the Lazers moved into a virtual second-place tie with the Kansas City Comets, and they lead the fifth-place Wichita Wings by 3 1/2 games in the race for a playoff spot.

It was also the Sockers’ worst loss since an 8-2 setback to the now-defunct Tampa Bay Rowdies during the 1983-84 season.

But it wasn’t the loss that was painful for the Sockers (37-11), who were just trying to keep from getting hurt. San Diego has already clinched the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The low point for the Sockers was two minutes into the second half when star forward Branko Segota, who had gone airborne over Lazer goalie David Brcic, crashed into the boards at the left side of the Lazer goal.

A stretcher was wheeled onto the field, but before it arrived, Segota--the league’s leading goal scorer with 53--arose holding his right arm. He received 13 stitches in his right elbow and could be ready to play sometime this week.

When the Sockers and Lazers played Saturday night in San Diego, two Socker starters--forward Juli Veee and defenseman Fernando Clavijo--suffered injuries that sidelined them Sunday. Midfielders Hugo Perez and Brian Quinn and forward Keder have been out with injuries for some time now.

“We knew (the Sockers) had some players out with injuries, but we can’t worry about that,” said forward Chris Chueden, who got his 20th goal to give the Lazers a 1-0 lead late in the first quarter. “We’re in a position where we have to take care of ourselves.”

The Lazers scored four times in the second quarter, starting with a goal by Namdar at 4:13. Zoran Karic scored for San Diego at 8:21, but Jim Gabarra countered eight seconds later with an unassisted score. Borja and Zoran Savic followed late in the period for a 5-1 Lazers’ lead at the half.

Chris Whyte and Thompson Usiyan also scored for Los Angeles in the second half, and Karic scored again for the Sockers.

Whatever fight the Sockers had left was put to rest moments after Segota walked off the field. A statement was issued that Segota would decide himself whether or not to return.

Then, moments later, Namdar scored on a pass from Borja to make it 6-1. Segota returned to the bench, but he did not return.