Los Angeles Lazers
Encyclopedia
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles
that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League
from 1982 to 1989.
(MISL) awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss
on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever
and wanted to move it to southern California. MISL approved and the team was renamed the Lazers. As Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lakers
of the National Basketball Association
, he chose the name Lazers for his soccer team both as a pun on the scientific acronym laser
and to note their connection to the Lakers.
The Lazers folded in June 1989.
in Inglewood, California
.
Oscar Albuquerque
(1986) Amr Aly
Batata (1983-85) 42 Apps 36 Goals Beto (1983-85) Darko Birjukov
Chico Borja (1987-88) 51 Apps 48 Goals David Brcic
(1986-87) 39 Apps
Aliktos Caloudas (1983-1986) Juan Cardenas (1984-85) Clive Charles
(1982)
Paul Child (1987-88) Chris Chueden (1987-88) Fernando Clavijo
(1988-89) 46 Apps 10 Goals Ben Collins
Michael Collins
(1988-89) 47 Apps 25 Goals Lee Cornwell (1982-89) Daryl Doran
(1988-89) 38 Apps 6 Goals Gary Hyams (1989-90) Mike Dowler
(1987-88) Shamus Dunfield (1986-88) Don Ebert
(1986) George Fernandez
Val Fernandez Patrick L Fitzgerald Mark Frederickson Jim Gabarra
(1986-89) Poli Garcia
(1982-87) 92 Apps 75 Goals Neil Gibson Jim Gorsek
(1988-89) Tim Harris
(1984-87) Leonard B Hayes (1988-89) Gary Heale
(1988-89) 48 Apps 37 Goals
Waad Hirmez
Greg Ion
(1984-85) Erhardt Kapp
(1986-89) Steve Kinsey (1988-89) Paul Kitson
Cle Kooiman (1982-87) A.J. Lachoweki (1987-88) Stuart Lee
(1983-85) 95 Apps 75 Goals / (1986-87) 52 Apps 31 Goals Thor Lee
Dave Madden (1985-87) Mike Mahoney (1983-85) 82 Apps 0 Goals Hector Marinaro
(1988-89) 44 Apps 47 Goals Neil Megson
Gus Mokalis Willie Molono Oscar Morales
(1987-88)
Cha Cha Namdar
Kris Peat (1988-89) 24 Apps 0 Goals Steve Pecher
(1986-88) Nathan Sacks
(1984-86) Zoran Savic
Kirk Shermer
(1982-83) 34 Apps 0 Goals Kai Steffen
Ivo Šurjak Thompson Usiyan
(1987-88) 51 Apps 52 Goals Martin Vasquez
(1984-85) Chris Whyte
(1987-88) Greg Willen Mike Windischmann
(1988-89) Octavio Zambrano
Arturo Zarate Pulido
Rookie of the Year
for southern California and other adjacent locations established in 1985. The audio track of these telecasts were also available on Cable Radio Network. Joel Meyers
was the play-by-play announcer.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
from 1982 to 1989.
History
Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL) awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss
Jerry Buss
Gerald Hatten "Jerry" Buss Ph.D., M.S. is an American businessman, real estate investor, and a former chemist. He is the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers professional basketball team along with other professional sports franchises in Southern California...
on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever
Philadelphia Fever
.The Philadelphia Fever were an indoor soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1982. Their home arena was the Spectrum)...
and wanted to move it to southern California. MISL approved and the team was renamed the Lazers. As Buss also owned the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, he chose the name Lazers for his soccer team both as a pun on the scientific acronym laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
and to note their connection to the Lakers.
The Lazers folded in June 1989.
Arena
The Lazers played their home games in The ForumThe Forum (Inglewood, California)
The Forum is an indoor arena, in Inglewood, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. From 2000 to 2010, it was owned by the Faithful Central Bible Church, which occasionally used it for church services, while also leasing the building for sporting events, concerts and other events.Along with Madison...
in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
Players
Oscar AlbuquerqueOscar Albuquerque
Oscar Albuquerque is a former Canadian soccer midfielder. He spent most of his professional career playing indoor soccer with U.S. teams...
(1986) Amr Aly
Amr Aly
Amr Aly is a retired American soccer forward. He attended Columbia University where he won the 1984 Hermann Trophy as the college player of the year....
Batata (1983-85) 42 Apps 36 Goals Beto (1983-85) Darko Birjukov
Chico Borja (1987-88) 51 Apps 48 Goals David BrcicDavid Brcic
David Joseph Brcic is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics and earned four caps with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth career:In 1976, Brcic...
(1986-87) 39 Apps
Aliktos Caloudas (1983-1986) Juan Cardenas (1984-85) Clive CharlesClive Charles
Clive Charles was a football player, coach and television announcer. Charles began his career with West Ham United and finished it in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached at the high school, collegiate and international levels in the United States.-Player:Charles was born in London,...
(1982)
Paul Child (1987-88) Chris Chueden (1987-88) Fernando ClavijoFernando Clavijo
Fernando Clavijo is a retired American soccer football defender and former head coach of the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1988-89) 46 Apps 10 Goals Ben Collins
Ben Collins (soccer)
Ben Collins is a retired Liberian soccer midfielder who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.-College:...
Michael Collins
Michael Collins (soccer)
Michael Collins is a former U.S. soccer midfielder. Collins played for at least twelve teams in nearly half a dozen leagues over his seventeen year professional career. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1988.-Youth and college:Collins grew up in Hicksville, New York where he...
(1988-89) 47 Apps 25 Goals Lee Cornwell (1982-89) Daryl Doran
Daryl Doran
Daryl Doran is a U.S. indoor soccer player. His 827 games are the most of any player in American professional indoor soccer history. Doran currently plays for the St...
(1988-89) 38 Apps 6 Goals Gary Hyams (1989-90) Mike Dowler
Mike Dowler
Mike Dowler is a retired Welsh professional football goalkeeper. He spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues where he was named the 1995 Continental Indoor Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year....
(1987-88) Shamus Dunfield (1986-88) Don Ebert
Don Ebert
Don Ebert is a retired U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career with two indoor clubs, the St. Louis Steamers and the Los Angeles Lazers.-Youth:Ebert attended Rosary High School Missouri...
(1986) George Fernandez
George Fernandez
George Fernandez is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He coached in both the Continental Indoor Soccer League and NPSL and was the 1994 CISL Coach of the Year.-Youth:Born in San Francisco,...
Val Fernandez Patrick L Fitzgerald Mark Frederickson Jim GabarraJim Gabarra
Jim Gabarra is a retired American soccer forward who coached the Washington Freedom women's soccer team for ten years. He played professionally in the American Soccer League, United Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance.-Early...
(1986-89) Poli Garcia
Poli Garcia
Jose “Poli” Garcia is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1982-87) 92 Apps 75 Goals Neil Gibson Jim Gorsek
Jim Gorsek
James “Jim” or “Jimmy” Gorsek is a former U.S. soccer goalkeeper. He spent seven seasons in the North American Soccer League, seven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League and two in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. He also earned two caps with the U.S...
(1988-89) Tim Harris
Tim Harris (soccer)
Tim Harris is an English football manager. He is currently Director of Football at Newport County.Harris was a professional football player for several clubs, including Shrewsbury, Newport County, Cheltenham, Redditch and as a goalkeeper for Gloucester City in the late 1970s...
(1984-87) Leonard B Hayes (1988-89) Gary Heale
Gary Heale
Gary John Heale is a former professional football player in both USA and England....
(1988-89) 48 Apps 37 Goals
Waad HirmezWaad Hirmez
Waad Hirmez is a retired Iraqi-American football player who spent most of his professional career in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League....
Greg Ion
Greg Ion
Gregory "Greg" Stewart Ion is a retired Canadian soccer midfielder.-Professional:The son of Gordie Ion, Ion graduated from Burnaby North Secondary School. In 1981, the Portland Timbers selected him in the first round of the North American Soccer League draft. However, he lost the entire 1981...
(1984-85) Erhardt Kapp
Erhardt Kapp
Erhardt Kapp is a retired Romanian-American soccer defender and current youth soccer coach. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team....
(1986-89) Steve Kinsey (1988-89) Paul Kitson
Paul Kitson (American soccer)
Paul Kitson who played and coached professionally with both indoor and outdoor soccer teams in Canada and the United States.-Player:...
Cle Kooiman (1982-87) A.J. Lachoweki (1987-88) Stuart Lee
Stuart Lee
Stuart Lee is a former English football forward. He played professionally in England, Wales and the United States.-Player:...
(1983-85) 95 Apps 75 Goals / (1986-87) 52 Apps 31 Goals Thor Lee
Thor Lee
Thor Lee is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played professionally in several U.S. leagues including one season in Major League Soccer.Lee attended CSU Northridge where he played on the school’s NCAA Division II soccer team from 1984 to 1987. In 1987, CSU Northridge went to the National...
Dave Madden (1985-87) Mike Mahoney (1983-85) 82 Apps 0 Goals Hector Marinaro
Hector Marinaro
Hector Luis Marinaro is the all-time leader in points and goals in professional indoor soccer. He is currently the men's soccer coach at John Carroll University.-Youth:...
(1988-89) 44 Apps 47 Goals
Neil MegsonNeil Megson (soccer)
Neil Megson is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer. He played two seasons in the North American Soccer League, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League and six in the USL First Division and its predecessors...
Gus Mokalis Willie Molono Oscar Morales
Oscar Morales
Oscar Morales is a Honduran football player, who currently plays for Real España. He is also part of the U-23 Honduras national football team that won the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament and qualified to the 2008 Summer Olympics....
(1987-88)
Cha Cha NamdarCha Cha Namdar
Asghar Shadin "Cha Cha" Namdar is a retired Iranian-American soccer player who spent time in the Major Indoor Soccer League, North American Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League....
Kris Peat (1988-89) 24 Apps 0 Goals Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher
Steve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:...
(1986-88) Nathan Sacks
Nathan Sacks
Nathan Sacks is a former South African professional football player who spent one season in the North American Soccer League.-Professional:...
(1984-86) Zoran Savic
Zoran Savic (soccer)
Zoran Savic is a retired Yugoslavian soccer forward who played professionally in the first Major Indoor Soccer League, second and third American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association...
Kirk Shermer
Kirk Shermer
Kirk Shermer is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who was the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year.Shermer attended Fresno State University where he played on the men’s soccer from 1978 to 1981. He was a 1981 Second Team All American. On December 14, 1981, the Tampa Bay Rowdies...
(1982-83) 34 Apps 0 Goals Kai Steffen
Kai Steffen
Kai Steffen is a former German professional football player.Steffen played in youth team of Hamburger SV. In 1979 he went to California Surf and played for two years in the NASL. 1981 he returned to Germany and in 1984 he got a contract for the professional team of Hamburger SV. But after three...
Ivo Šurjak Thompson Usiyan
Thompson Usiyan
Thompson Usiyan is a retired Nigerian football player. He holds the NCAA Division I career scoring record and played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the Nigerian Olympic soccer which...
(1987-88) 51 Apps 52 Goals Martin Vasquez
Martin Vasquez
Martin Vasquez is a Mexican-born American former professional soccer player. He was most recently the head coach of C.D. Chivas USA in Major League Soccer....
(1984-85) Chris Whyte
Chris Whyte
Christopher Anderson "Chris" Whyte is an English former footballer. He made nearly 350 appearances in the Football League for a variety of clubs, and was capped by England at under-21 level....
(1987-88) Greg Willen Mike Windischmann
Mike Windischmann
Michael "Mike" Windischmann is a retired American soccer defender who played in both the Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Soccer League. He earned fifty caps with the U.S. national team and was the captain of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup...
(1988-89) Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano
Octavio Zambrano is one of the all-time winningest coaches in Major League Soccer history, .-Player:...
Arturo Zarate Pulido
Year-by-year
| Year | Record | Regular Season | Playoffs | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-1983 | 8-40 | 7th Western Division | Did not qualify | 3,963 |
| 1983-1984 | 24-24 | 3rd Western Division | First Round | 4,405 |
| 1984-1985 | 24-24 | 3rd Western Division | Quarterfinals | 5,062 |
| 1985-1986 | 13-35 | 6th Western Division | Did not qualify | 4,770 |
| 1986-1987 | 16-36 | 6th Western Division | Did not qualify | 4,647 |
| 1987-1988 | 31-25 | 2nd Western Division | 1st Round | 5,879 |
| 1988-1989 | 21-27 | 6th | Did not qualify | 4,866 |
Honors
Coach of the Year- 1984-1985 Peter WallPeter Wall (footballer)Peter Wall is an English retired professional footballer who played in England and the United States as a full back. He later enjoyed a coaching career in the United States.-Playing career:...
Rookie of the Year
- 1982-83 Kirk ShermerKirk ShermerKirk Shermer is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who was the 1983 Major Indoor Soccer League Rookie of the Year.Shermer attended Fresno State University where he played on the men’s soccer from 1978 to 1981. He was a 1981 Second Team All American. On December 14, 1981, the Tampa Bay Rowdies...
Television coverage
The Lazers were one of the first teams whose games were shown on Prime Ticket, the regional sports networkRegional sports network
In the United States of America and Canada, a regional sports network, or RSN, is a cable television station that presents sports programming to a local market. The most important programming on an RSN consists of live broadcasts of professional and college sporting events, as those games generate...
for southern California and other adjacent locations established in 1985. The audio track of these telecasts were also available on Cable Radio Network. Joel Meyers
Joel Meyers
Joel Meyers is an American sportscaster and former play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association on Fox Sports West and KCAL. Meyers left the Lakers at the end of the 2010-2011 season when the team did not renew his contract.-Career:Meyers joined the Lakers...
was the play-by-play announcer.