1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season

The 1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the ninth in league history and ended with the Dallas Sidekicks winning their first MISL title over the Tacoma Stars.

Major Indoor Soccer League
Season1986–87
ChampionsDallas Sidekicks
Matches played299
Top goalscorerTatu (73 goals)
Average attendance8,714

Recap

It was a topsy-turvy season. Attempts to stabilize the league's presence in New York by moving the league office and putting the league's newest franchise there were unsuccessful. The New York Express barely made it to the All-Star break. A stock sale had been a massive failure and results were equally bad on the field.[1] With the club's record at 3-23, management announced on February 16 that they would be unable to finish the season.[2]

As for matters on the field, league officials made plans to expand the schedule further despite losing the Pittsburgh Spirit the previous spring. Not only would each team play 52 games, the playoffs would be expanded to include two best-of seven rounds.[3] With all but one of the six preceding series going to a deciding game, Game 7 of the championship series would be played on June 20, the latest date in MISL history and six days after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Games 3 and 6 at Dallas' Reunion Arena were sellouts, and the Tacoma Dome attracted crowds of 20,284 and 21,728 for Games 5 and 7, the two largest crowds in MISL playoff history.[4]

The San Diego Sockers' dominance ended this season, as long-term injuries to last year's playoff MVP Brian Quinn and other Sockers had the team uncharacteristically struggling.[5] They would finish eight games behind the Stars, who were led by Steve Zungul and owned the MISL's best regular-season record. Despite Quinn's return for the playoffs,[6] Tacoma defeated San Diego in Game 7 of their division final matchup.[7] It was the first indoor playoff series loss ever for the Sockers, ending a run of 15 straight series wins dating back to the 1981–82 NASL Indoor season.

In the end, the Sidekicks epitomized the MISL season. The club folded in June 1986,[8] yet a last-ditch effort by fans brought the club back to life within three weeks.[9] Tatu led the league in goals and points, and earned both the regular-season and playoff MVP awards. Dallas rallied from a 2-1 series deficit to beat the Baltimore Blast in the first round, and won Games 6 and 7 of the championship series in overtime.[10] Mark Karpun scored both overtime goals, and his Game 6 double overtime winner ended the longest game in MISL playoff history.[11]

Six days after the Sidekicks' victory, the MISL granted a conditional franchise to NBA Denver Nuggets owner Sidney Shlenker for the 1988-89 season.[12] When the planned "Denver Desperados" franchise had only 400 season tickets instead of the required 5,000 four months after the announcement, the franchise was revoked on November 5.[13]

Teams
Team City/Area Arena
Baltimore Blast Baltimore Baltimore Arena
Chicago Sting Rosemont, Illinois Rosemont Horizon
Cleveland Force Cleveland Richfield Coliseum
Dallas Sidekicks Dallas Reunion Arena
Kansas City Comets Kansas City, Missouri Kemper Arena
Los Angeles Lazers Inglewood, California The Forum
Minnesota Strikers Bloomington, Minnesota Met Center
New York Express Uniondale, New York Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
San Diego Sockers San Diego San Diego Sports Arena
St. Louis Steamers St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Arena
Tacoma Stars Tacoma, Washington Tacoma Dome
Wichita Wings Wichita, Kansas Kansas Coliseum

Regular season schedule

The 1986–87 regular season schedule ran from November 13, 1986, to May 3, 1987. The schedule was lengthened to 52 games per team, the longest to date in MISL history.[14]

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.

Eastern Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road
Cleveland Force3418.654--25221820-614-12
Baltimore Blast3319.635123920120-613-13
Dallas Sidekicks2824.538620919715-1113-13
Minnesota Strikers2626.500820519814-1212-14
Chicago Sting2329.4421126326515-118-18
New York Express323.11518971592-111-12
Western Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road
Tacoma Stars3517.673--24921117-918-8
Kansas City Comets2824.538727125318-810-16
San Diego Sockers2725.519821420016-1011-15
Wichita Wings2725.519826826518-89-17
St. Louis Steamers1933.3651619522413-136-20
Los Angeles Lazers1636.3081918325412-144-22

Playoffs
Division Semifinals Division Finals Championship Series
         
E1 Cleveland Force 3
E4 Minnesota Strikers 2
E1 Cleveland Force 1
E3 Dallas Sidekicks 4
E2 Baltimore Blast 2
E3 Dallas Sidekicks 3
E3 Dallas Sidekicks 4
W1 Tacoma Stars 3
W1 Tacoma Stars 3
W4 Wichita Wings 2
W1 Tacoma Stars 4
W3 San Diego Sockers 3
W2 Kansas City Comets 2
W3 San Diego Sockers 3

Division Semifinals
Cleveland vs. Minnesota
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 9Minnesota 5Cleveland 411,461
Hector Marinaro scored at 2:07 of overtime
May 10Minnesota 6Cleveland 77,165
May 13Cleveland 6Minnesota 55,766
Michael King scored at 12:55 of overtime
May 16Cleveland 4Minnesota 56,888
May 19Minnesota 3Cleveland 711,808
Cleveland wins series 3-2
Baltimore vs. Dallas
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 7Dallas 2Baltimore 36,224
May 9Dallas 7Baltimore 67,306
May 15Baltimore 3Dallas 29,182
Andy Chapman scored at 1:54 of overtime
May 17Baltimore 3Dallas 45,149
Tatu scored at 4:53 of overtime
May 19Dallas 7Baltimore 47,918
Dallas wins series 3-2
Tacoma vs. Wichita
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 6Wichita 7Tacoma 99,385
May 8Wichita 1Tacoma 911,842
May 10Tacoma 3Wichita 106,846
May 13Tacoma 2Wichita 69,023
May 14Wichita 2Tacoma 47,254
Tacoma wins series 3-2
Kansas City vs. San Diego
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 7San Diego 5Kansas City 48,141
Waad Hirmez scored at 5:58 of overtime
May 10San Diego 1Kansas City 58,127
May 12Kansas City 9San Diego 77,685
May 17Kansas City 2San Diego 57,946
May 20San Diego 9Kansas City 511,136
San Diego wins series 3-2

Division Finals
Cleveland vs. Dallas
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 23Dallas 3Cleveland 512,034
May 24Dallas 9Cleveland 613,051
May 27Cleveland 2Dallas 59,107
May 29Cleveland 4Dallas 916,824
May 31Dallas 4Cleveland 38,859
Dallas wins series 4-1
Tacoma vs. San Diego
DateAwayHomeAttendance
May 22San Diego 6Tacoma 511,884
May 24San Diego 2Tacoma 79,055
May 27Tacoma 3San Diego 29,704
May 30Tacoma 2San Diego 611,436
May 31San Diego 6Tacoma 512,934
June 2Tacoma 4San Diego 312,884
June 4San Diego 5Tacoma 816,054
Tacoma wins series 4-3

Championship Series
Tacoma vs. Dallas
DateAwayHomeAttendance
June 9Dallas 4Tacoma 1011,496
June 11Dallas 4Tacoma 714,643
June 13Tacoma 3Dallas 516,824
June 14Tacoma 3Dallas 613,597
June 16Dallas 3Tacoma 520,284
June 18Tacoma 4Dallas 516,824
Mark Karpun scored at 20:30 of overtime
June 20Dallas 4Tacoma 321,728
Mark Karpun scored at 9:23 of overtime
Dallas wins series 4-3

Regular Season Player Statistics

[15]

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts
Tatu Dallas Sidekicks517338111
Jan Goossens Minnesota Strikers45514495
Kai Haaskivi Cleveland Force49345589
Steve Zungul Tacoma Stars51424789
Preki Tacoma Stars51414788
Chico Borja Wichita Wings46513687
Batata Chicago Sting52374885
Godfrey Ingram Tacoma Stars51522981
Dale Mitchell Kansas City Comets48512475
Branko Segota San Diego Sockers38344175

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
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers3520581163.381519
Krys SobieskiDallas Sidekicks4325251453.452419
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast241314763.47149
Zoltán TóthSan Diego Sockers3318751103.521713
Jim GorsekSan Diego Sockers251265823.891012
Keith Van EronBaltimore Blast261390913.93156
Joe PapaleoTacoma Stars3118081203.98229
Slobo IlljevskiSt. Louis Steamers4626311764.011628
Cris VaccaroCleveland Force3620121164.02209
P.J. JohnsCleveland Force241406954.05148

Playoff Player Statistics

[16]

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts
Tatu Dallas Sidekicks17221638
Steve Zungul Tacoma Stars19211738
Preki Tacoma Stars17191837
Branko Segota San Diego Sockers10191231
Gary Heale Tacoma Stars1917724

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
Joe PapaleoTacoma Stars9535323.5954
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast4187123.8412
Krys SobieskiDallas Sidekicks16989704.25115
Zoltán TóthSan Diego Sockers11544394.3055
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers5302234.5623

All-MISL Teams
First Team  Position  Second Team
Krys Sobieski, Dallas G Tino Lettieri, Minnesota
Bruce Savage, Baltimore D Bernie James, Cleveland
Fernando Clavijo, San Diego D Kevin Crow, San Diego
Kai Haaskivi, Cleveland M Branko Segota, San Diego
Tatu, Dallas F Jan Goossens, Kansas City
Steve Zungul, Tacoma F Preki, Tacoma
Honorable Mention  Position  
David Brcic, Los Angeles G
Neil Megson, Tacoma D
Victor Moreland, Dallas D
Chico Borja, Wichita M
Godfrey Ingram, Tacoma F
Batata, Chicago F

League Awards
  • Most Valuable Player: Tatu, Dallas
  • Scoring Champion: Tatu, Dallas
  • Pass Master: Kai Haaskivi, Cleveland
  • Defender of the Year: Bruce Savage, Baltimore
  • Rookie of the Year: John Stollmeyer, Cleveland
  • Newcomer of the Year: Steve Kinsey, Minnesota
  • Goalkeeper of the Year: Tino Lettieri, Minnesota
  • Coach of the Year: Dave Clements, Kansas City
  • Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Tatu, Dallas

Team attendance totals
Club Games Total Average
Cleveland Force 26 366,887 14,111
Kansas City Comets 26 323,622 12,447
Tacoma Stars 26 269,974 10,384
Baltimore Blast 26 258,333 9,936
San Diego Sockers 26 253,444 9,748
Dallas Sidekicks 26 224,536 8,636
Wichita Wings 26 209,800 8,069
St. Louis Steamers 26 182,984 7,038
Minnesota Strikers 26 181,441 6,977
Chicago Sting 26 152,861 5,879
New York Express 13 67,752 5,212
Los Angeles Lazers 26 113,831 4,376
OVERALL 299 2,605,465 8,714

References
  1. "New York Express". Fun While It Lasted. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
  2. "Express Goes Out Of Business". Schenectady Gazette. February 17, 1987. p. 31. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  3. "MISL plans to expand semis to five games". Lawrence Journal-World. June 1, 1986. p. 2B. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 10.
  5. Appleman, Marc (April 16, 1987). "Sockers Hit Another Low in Loss: San Diego Drops Fourth Straight as St. Louis Prevails, 2-1". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  6. Appleman, Marc (May 8, 1987). "Sockers of Old Win in Overtime". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  7. Appleman, Marc (June 5, 1987). "Fate Finally Catches Up With Sockers". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  8. "MISL Sidekicks fold". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 10, 1986. p. 18. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  9. "SIDEKICKS PURCHASE BACK ON". Wichita Eagle. July 1, 1986. p. 4B.
  10. "Overtime Goal Gives Dallas Title". Los Angeles Times. June 21, 1987. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  11. "Sidekicks win, force 7th game". Ellensburg Daily Record. June 19, 1987. p. 8. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  12. "MISL awards Denver expansion franchise". Eugene Register-Guard. June 26, 1987. p. 4C. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  13. "MISL team folds". Wilmington Morning Star. November 6, 1987. p. 2B. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  14. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. pp. 47–49.
  15. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 33.
  16. MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. 1987. p. 73.

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

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