1984–85 Major Indoor Soccer League season

The 1984–85 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the seventh in league history and ended with the San Diego Sockers winning their second MISL title in three seasons over the Baltimore Blast. It was the Sockers' fourth straight indoor title, as they had also won the North American Soccer League's indoor league in the spring of 1984.

Major Indoor Soccer League
Season1984–85
ChampionsSan Diego Sockers
(2nd title)
Matches played328
Top goalscorerSteve Zungul (68 goals)
Average attendance8,599

Recap

With the NASL near death in the summer of 1984, a handful of teams made plans to switch from outdoor to indoor soccer once the NASL season ended in October.[1] Along with the Sockers, the Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers and New York Cosmos formally made the leap in late August.[2] With the addition of the Dallas Sidekicks, the league went back to a 14-team, two-division setup.

With an influx of new teams, the league expanded the playoffs even further. 10 teams would qualify, the top three in each division and the next best four wild-card teams. The wild-card teams would play a best-of-three series. The second and third round were best-of-five series, and the championship round would be a best-of-seven series. Each successive round would see the winners reseeded, similar to the NHL playoff format used for almost 20 years.[3]

While the Sting and Strikers made the playoffs, the Cosmos struggled. On February 22, with their record at 11-22, the team announced they were pulling out of the MISL effective immediately.[4] The league would scramble to fill out the schedule,[5] but only the Wichita Wings would play an uneven number of games.

The Strikers would make a run from the wildcard series to the league semifinals, only falling to San Diego in a decisive fifth game. Trailing in the series two games to one, Minnesota actually lost the fourth game in a shootout,[6] but lodged a protest with commissioner Francis Dale over San Diego's shooting order. Dale upheld the protest and declared the Strikers winners.[7] Despite the Sockers only being made aware of the fifth game once they landed at the San Diego airport, they shut out Minnesota to win the series[8]

This would be the final year the MISL would have games aired on network television, CBS broadcast Game 4 of the championship series live on May 25.[9]

Despite having the league's third-best record, the Las Vegas Americans would be terminated by the league after the season due to financial difficulties.[10]

Teams
Team City/Area Arena
Baltimore Blast Baltimore Baltimore Arena
Chicago Sting Chicago Chicago Stadium
Cleveland Force Cleveland Richfield Coliseum
Dallas Sidekicks Dallas Reunion Arena
Kansas City Comets Kansas City, Missouri Kemper Arena
Las Vegas Americans Paradise, Nevada Thomas & Mack Center
Los Angeles Lazers Inglewood, California The Forum
Minnesota Strikers Bloomington, Minnesota Met Center
New York Cosmos East Rutherford, New Jersey Brendan Byrne Arena
Pittsburgh Spirit Pittsburgh Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)
San Diego Sockers San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
St. Louis Steamers St. Louis St. Louis Arena
Tacoma Stars Tacoma, Washington Tacoma Dome
Wichita Wings Wichita, Kansas Kansas Coliseum

Regular season schedule

The 1984–85 regular season schedule ran from November 2, 1984, to April 14, 1985. Despite the Cosmos leaving the league in mid-season, each team played their scheduled 48 games with the exception of Wichita.[11]

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.

Eastern Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road
Baltimore Blast3216.667--25219019-513-11
Chicago Sting2820.583426122320-48-16
Cleveland Force2721.563523922815-912-12
Minnesota Strikers2424.500822422616-88-16
St. Louis Steamers2424.500821120716-88-16
Pittsburgh Spirit1929.3961321725616-83-21
New York Cosmos1122.33313½1371857-94-13
Western Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road
San Diego Sockers3711.771--30220118-619-5
Las Vegas Americans3018.625726921418-612-12
Los Angeles Lazers2424.5001323223014-1010-14
Kansas City Comets2226.4581521622113-119-15
Wichita Wings2126.43715½20223314-107-16
Tacoma Stars1731.3542020726311-136-18
Dallas Sidekicks1236.333251942868-164-20

Playoffs
  Wildcard Series Division Semifinals Division Finals Championship Series
                                     
WC2 St. Louis Steamers 1  
WC3 Kansas City Comets 2  
  1 San Diego Sockers 3  
    8 Kansas City Comets 0  
     
       
  1 San Diego Sockers 3  
  6 Minnesota Strikers 2  
WC1 Minnesota Strikers 2  
WC4 Wichita Wings 1  
  3 Las Vegas Americans 1
    6 Minnesota Strikers 3  
     
       
  1 San Diego Sockers 4
  2 Baltimore Blast 1
       
       
  2 Baltimore Blast 3
    7 Los Angeles Lazers 0  
     
       
  2 Baltimore Blast 3
  5 Cleveland Force 2  
       
       
  4 Chicago Sting 2
    5 Cleveland Force 3  
     

Wildcard Series
Minnesota vs. Wichita
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 17Wichita 1Minnesota 24,233
April 19Minnesota 3Wichita 87,053
April 21Wichita 2Minnesota 34,032
Jan Goossens scored at 2:45 of overtime
Minnesota wins series 2-1
St. Louis vs. Kansas City
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 17Kansas City 5St. Louis 47,636
Damir Haramina scored at 8:14 of overtime
April 19St. Louis 3Kansas City 210,241
Tasso Koutsoukos scored at 1:22 of overtime
Kansas City wins series 2-0

Quarterfinals
San Diego vs. Kansas City
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 24Kansas City 3San Diego 47,552
Brian Quinn scored at 11:45 of overtime
April 26Kansas City 7San Diego 119,560
April 28San Diego 3Kansas City 210,458
San Diego wins series 3-0
Chicago vs. Cleveland
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 19Cleveland 5Chicago 46,550
Peter Ward scored at 10:31 of overtime
April 21Cleveland 4Chicago 85,005
April 24Chicago 1Cleveland 68,112
April 27Chicago 4Cleveland 511,248
Keith Furphy scored at 5:01 of overtime
Cleveland wins series 3-1
Baltimore vs. Los Angeles
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 24Los Angeles 3Baltimore 47,108
April 26Los Angeles 3Baltimore 119,493
April 28Baltimore 5Los Angeles 44,746
Baltimore wins series 3-0
Las Vegas vs. Minnesota
DateAwayHomeAttendance
April 24Minnesota 6Las Vegas 55,278
April 26Minnesota 4Las Vegas 66,016
April 28Las Vegas 2Minnesota 37,134
May 1Las Vegas 1Minnesota 45,094
Minnesota wins series 3-1

Semifinals
San Diego vs. Minnesota
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 5Minnesota 1San Diego 88,494
May 8Minnesota 5San Diego 610,143
Jean Willrich scored at 1:15 of overtime
May 10San Diego 5Minnesota 88,270
May 12San Diego 3Minnesota 37,871
Minnesota wins shootout 3-2**
May 14Minnesota 0San Diego 710,059
San Diego wins series 3-2
Baltimore vs. Cleveland
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 3Cleveland 5Baltimore 67,568
May 5Cleveland 5Baltimore 38,205
May 10Baltimore 3Cleveland 413,093
May 11Baltimore 7Cleveland 613,861
May 14Cleveland 4Baltimore 79,184
Baltimore wins series 3-2

**San Diego won the shootout 4-3, but Minnesota appealed the result, as the Sockers used an ineligible player. The Strikers were declared winners on May 13.

Championship Series
San Diego vs. Baltimore
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 17Baltimore 4San Diego 511,639
May 19Baltimore 3San Diego 712,185
May 23San Diego 6Baltimore 1011,074
May 25San Diego 14Baltimore 29,084
May 28Baltimore 3San Diego 512,948
San Diego wins series 4-1

Regular season player statistics

[12]

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Steve Zungul San Diego Sockers486868136
Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting476453117
Branko Segota San Diego Sockers466640106
Stan Stamenkovic Baltimore Blast43395291
Tatu Dallas Sidekicks43592988
Dale Mitchell Tacoma Stars48553287
Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers48434386
Fred Grgurev Las Vegas Americans48482977
Craig Allen Cleveland Force42453075
Jan Goossens Minnesota Strikers48492473

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses

Player Team GP Min GA GAA W L
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast3620801353.892311
Slobo IlljevskiSt. Louis Steamers3016811124.001112
Jim GorsekSan Diego Sockers3016651124.04198
Manny SchwartzKansas City Comets4021921524.161915
Alan MayerLas Vegas Americans3017591244.231712
Victor NogueiraChicago Sting4324401624.342315
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers4526721984.452421
Cris VaccaroCleveland Force2714531084.46168
Mike DowlerWichita Wings4123941794.492020
John BarettaTacoma Stars3116371274.651113

Playoff player statistics

[13]

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Player Team GP G A Pts
Steve Zungul San Diego Sockers13132437
Branko Segota San Diego Sockers1322830
Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers13111223
Brian Quinn San Diego Sockers13111122
Andy Chapman Cleveland Force914519
Stan Stamenkovic Baltimore Blast1181119

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses

Player Team GP Min GA GAA W L
Jim GorsekSan Diego Sockers9516212.4471
Mike DowlerWichita Wings318082.6712
Cris VaccaroCleveland Force9546384.1853
Slobo IlijevskiSt. Louis Steamers212994.1902
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers11667514.5965
Manny SchwartzKansas City Comets4222174.5922

All-MISL teams
First Team  Position  Second Team
Scott Manning, Baltimore G Slobo Ilijevski, St. Louis
Mike Stankovic, Baltimore D Jorge Espinoza, Las Vegas
Branko Segota, San Diego D Jean Willrich, San Diego
Kevin Crow, San Diego M Kim Roentved, Wichita
Steve Zungul, San Diego F Stan Stamenkovic, Baltimore
Karl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago F Tatu, Dallas
Honorable Mention  Position  
Jim Gorsek, San Diego G
Bruce Savage, Baltimore D
Gerry Gray, Chicago D
Benny Dargle, Cleveland M
Dale Mitchell, Tacoma F
Fred Grgurev, Las Vegas F

League awards
  • Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, San Diego
  • Scoring Champion: Steve Zungul, San Diego
  • Pass Master: Steve Zungul, San Diego
  • Defender of the Year: Kevin Crow, San Diego
  • Rookie of the Year: Ali Kazemaini, Cleveland
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Scott Manning, Baltimore
  • Coach of the Year: Peter Wall, Los Angeles
  • Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, San Diego

Team attendance totals
Club Games Total Average
Cleveland Force 24 310,284 12,929
Kansas City Comets 24 310,017 12,917
St. Louis Steamers 24 305,054 12,711
Baltimore Blast 24 265,224 11,051
Chicago Sting 24 255,073 10,628
San Diego Sockers 24 230,272 9,595
Wichita Wings 24 209,035 8,710
Pittsburgh Spirit 24 187,021 7,793
Tacoma Stars 24 173,317 7,222
Las Vegas Americans 24 152,083 6,337
Los Angeles Lazers 24 121,488 5,062
Dallas Sidekicks 24 119,248 4,969
Minnesota Strikers 24 115,408 4,809
New York Cosmos 16 66,900 4,181
OVERALL 328 2,820,424 8,599

References
  1. Miranda, Randy (August 10, 1984). "Four NASL squads will play in MISL". Lakeland Ledger. p. D1. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  2. "MISL takes four NASL teams". Boca Raton News. August 31, 1984. p. 2C. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  3. 1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide. 1984. p. 34.
  4. "Cosmos pull out of MISL, NASL". Ellensburg Daily Record. February 23, 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  5. "MISL revises schedule after Cosmos pullout". Gainesville Sun. February 24, 1985. p. 10F. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  6. Dolan, Steve (May 13, 1985). "It Takes Sockers 14 Shooters in the Shootout to Win". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  7. "Sockers' Semifinal Playoff Victory Overturned by MISL Commissioner". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 1985. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  8. "Sockers Win, 7-0, to Gain MISL Final". Los Angeles Times. May 15, 1985. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  9. Sarni, Jim (May 25, 1985). "Blast For Soccer Fans: CBS Airs MISL Game". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  10. "MISL board terminates Las Vegas franchise". Lawrence Journal-World. July 18, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  11. 1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide. 1984. pp. 50–54.
  12. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 51.
  13. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 80.

1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide. Dallas: Dallas Sidekicks. 1984.

1985-86 MISL Media Guide. Chicago: Major Indoor Soccer League. 1985.

Leary, Dan; Griffin, John (1987). MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. New York: Major Indoor Soccer League Communications Department.

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