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.

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. With the club's record at 3-23, management announced on February 16 that they would be unable to finish the season.
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. 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.
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. 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, Tacoma defeated San Diego in Game 7 of their division final matchup. 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, yet a last-ditch effort by fans brought the club back to life within three weeks. 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. Mark Karpun scored both overtime goals, and his Game 6 double overtime winner ended the longest game in MISL playoff history.
Six days after the Sidekicks' victory, the MISL granted a conditional franchise to owner Sidney Shlenker for the 1988-89 season. 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.

Teams

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.

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.
Eastern DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
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 DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
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

Regular Season Player Statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
TatuDallas Sidekicks517338111
Jan GoossensMinnesota Strikers45514495
Kai HaaskiviCleveland Force49345589
Steve ZungulTacoma Stars51424789
PrekiTacoma Stars51414788
Chico BorjaWichita Wings46513687
BatataChicago Sting52374885
Godfrey IngramTacoma Stars51522981
Dale MitchellKansas City Comets48512475
Branko SegotaSan Diego Sockers38344175

Leading Goalkeepers

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

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
TatuDallas Sidekicks17221638
Steve ZungulTacoma Stars19211738
PrekiTacoma Stars17191837
Branko SegotaSan Diego Sockers10191231
Gary HealeTacoma Stars1917724

Leading Goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWL
Joe PapaleoTacoma Stars9535323.5954
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast4187123.8412
Krys SobieskiDallas Sidekicks16989704.25115
Zoltán TóthSan Diego Sockers11544394.3055
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers5302234.5623

All-MISL Teams

Honorable Mention Position
David Brcic, Los AngelesG
Neil Megson, TacomaD
Victor Moreland, DallasD
Chico Borja, WichitaM
Godfrey Ingram, TacomaF
Batata, ChicagoF

League Awards