Southern California Lazers

The Southern California Lazers were an American soccer club based in Torrance, California that was a member of the American Soccer League.[1][2]

Southern California Lazers
Full nameSouthern California Lazers
Founded1978
Dissolved1978
GroundMurdock Stadium
Capacity12,127
LeagueAmerican Soccer League

History

The Lazers were formed in 1978 as an ASL expansion franchise in suburban Los Angeles and owned by real estate developer Jack Young, who formerly owned local rival Los Angeles Skyhawks.[3]

The club hired veteran English defender Laurie Calloway as head coach - the first opportunity of a coaching career that would include stints in the North American Soccer League and Major League Soccer. Arguably the biggest name on the roster was Rildo, the former Brazilian international defender who teamed with Pele on Brazil’s national team, Santos FC, and the New York Cosmos. With 14 goals, forward Sid Wallace led the Lazers in scoring.[4] Goalkeeper John Granville led the league with a 0.99 goals against average[5] and posted seven clean sheets. Four Lazers players (Rildo, Wallace, Granville, and defender Paul Cahill) were voted by the league's coaches to the ASL All Star team at season's end.[6]

The Lazers enjoyed a successful regular season at 15-8-1 to place third in the Western Division and received a postseason berth. However, they fell in the first round of the ASL playoffs to the California Sunshine by a score of 2-1.[7] Despite having the second highest attendance of all ASL clubs in 1978,[8] the club folded after their debut season.

Coach

1978 Roster

Year-by-year
Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Avg. Attend.
1978 2 ASL 3rd, Western 1st Round Did not enter 3,915

References
  1. "1978 Southern California Lazers". Fun While It Lasted. December 11, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  2. "1978 Southern California Lazers Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  3. "Still Doing the Legwork: Soccer: Founder of Valley's first pro team using entrepreneurial vision to push the sport". Los Angeles Times. May 4, 1990. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. "1978 Southern California Lazers Statistics". Stats Crew. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. "The Year in American Soccer - 1978". Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  6. "Four Lazers all-league". The Gadsden Times. September 3, 1978. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. "The Year in American Soccer - 1978". Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. "Attendance Project: ASL II". Retrieved December 3, 2020.


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