Striker Roy Lassiter came off the bench to score the U.S goal against El Salvador. SOCCER AMERICA: How difficult is it for you to change the coachÆs mind and earn a starting spot? ROY LASSITER: Score the goals. Scoring them makes it harder for him to decide whether to start me or to play me [off the bench]. Nine times out of 10, IÆll play for sure. But I want to start and I have that in mind. SA: The national team seems to have a lot of bits of strikers, but Eric Wynalda aside, youÆre the only other guy who can regularly put the ball away… RL: ItÆs good to have different characters and types on the team. Jovan Kirovski and David Wagner and Wynalda are great players and we all give each other competition, we all work hard. But I donÆt try to compare myself with them. I can score in big games at much-needed times. Like today. SA: How is the season going with MLS? RL: IÆve been out for six weeks, three with a groin and three with a hamstring. I finally got back to 100 percent, when I scored against San Jose. Actually, I should have had three. But itÆs coming on. This year, I know defenders are going to key in on me, but thatÆs going to make me a better player in the long run. SA: Was it easy adjusting to John Kowalski at the Mutiny? RL: ItÆs been difficult, a little different. YouÆve got to expect differences when a different coach, coaching staff and general manager come in ù weÆve had that in Tampa this year. WeÆre learning to understand each other, to play better together and by the end of the season weÆre going to be a much better team. by Soccer America Senior Editor Duncan Irving