The 1985–86 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the eighth in league history and ended with the San Diego Sockers winning their third MISL title in four seasons over the Minnesota Strikers. It was the Sockers' fifth straight indoor title, as they had also won the North American Soccer League's indoor league in 1982 and 1984.
Recap For the most part, the league format remained unchanged. A 48-game season would be followed with an eight-team playoff, similar to the playoff system used from 1982 to 1984. There would be one major change in gameplay, however. The shootout, part of the MISL since its inception, was dropped in favor of multiple overtime periods to decide games, if necessary. There was a steady national TV contract for the first time since 1983, as ESPN would televise 15 regular-season games and assorted playoff games.
The East and West division races were a study in contrasts. San Diego ran away with the West again, despite selling reigning league MVP Steve Zungul to the Tacoma Stars for $200,000 halfway through the regular season. Tacoma would go 11-8 with Zungul, who won the league scoring title for the sixth time in the MISL's eight years. However, the Stars lost in four games to the Sockers in the league semifinals.
In the East, the six-team division was separated by only four games. The playoff positions were only confirmed when the Baltimore Blast defeated the Pittsburgh Spirit in the season finale. The Dallas Sidekicks switched divisions and promptly won 13 more games than the previous year, making the playoffs for the first time and earning Gordon Jago Coach of the Year honors.
For the second straight year, the Strikers and Sockers went to a deciding game in their playoff matchup. San Diego became the first team to rally from a two-game deficit to win a MISL playoff series, as the Strikers' 3-1 lead in the championship series disappeared under three straight Socker wins. In the first seventh game in MISL history, the Sockers held off a late Minnesota charge to win 5-3. San Diego's Brian Quinn scored two goals and an assist on his way to playoff MVP honors.
After the season, the Spirit folded, and the league made plans to return to New York with an expansion franchise.
Teams TeamCity/AreaArenaBaltimore BlastBaltimore, Maryland Baltimore ArenaChicago StingChicago Chicago StadiumCleveland ForceCleveland, Ohio Richfield ColiseumDallas SidekicksDallas, Texas Reunion ArenaKansas City CometsKansas City, Missouri Kemper ArenaLos Angeles LazersInglewood, California The ForumMinnesota StrikersBloomington, MinnesotaMet Center Pittsburgh SpiritPittsburgh, Pennsylvania Civic Arena (Pittsburgh) San Diego SockersSan Diego, California San Diego Sports ArenaSt. Louis SteamersSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis ArenaTacoma Stars Tacoma, Washington Tacoma DomeWichita WingsWichita, Kansas Kansas Coliseum
Map of clubs
Regular season schedule
The 1985–86 regular season schedule ran from October 25, 1985, to April 6, 1986. Despite the loss of two teams from the 1984-85 lineup, the schedule remained at 48 games.
Final standings
Playoff teams in bold. Eastern Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road Cleveland Force 2721.563--25221215-912-12 Minnesota Strikers 2622.542123224216-810-14 Dallas Sidekicks 2523.521222023116-89-15 Baltimore Blast 2424.500321120117-77-17 Chicago Sting 2325.479419619614-109-15 Pittsburgh Spirit 2325.479422123718-65-19
Western Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road San Diego Sockers 3612.750-- 30819521-315-9 Wichita Wings2721.563925822615-912-12 Tacoma Stars 2325.4791320823215-98-16 St. Louis Steamers 2325.4791322323316-87-17 Kansas City Comets 1830.3751821726812-126-18 Los Angeles Lazers 1335.271231972709-154-20
Playoffs
Quarterfinals
Cleveland vs. Baltimore Date Away Home Attendance April 8 Baltimore 2 Cleveland 7 8,666 April 13 Baltimore 8 Cleveland 3 19,468 April 15 Cleveland 6 Baltimore 8 7,631 April 18 Cleveland 4 Baltimore 3 12,232 Kai Haaskivi scored at 3:21 of overtime April 20 Baltimore 1 Cleveland 5 16,626 Cleveland wins series 3-2 Minnesota vs. Dallas Date Away Home Attendance April 12 Dallas 3 Minnesota 5 7,101 April 13 Dallas 2 Minnesota 7 5,151 April 16 Minnesota 3 Dallas 4 10,218 April 19 Minnesota 7 Dallas 4 13,908 Minnesota wins series 3-1
San Diego vs. St. Louis Date Away Home Attendance April 10 St. Louis 6 San Diego 7 7,506 Gary Collier scored at 11:31 of overtime April 12 St. Louis 3 San Diego 5 10,123 April 16 San Diego 7 St. Louis 8 7,506 April 19 San Diego 10 St. Louis 4 9,464 San Diego wins series 3-1 Wichita vs. Tacoma Date Away Home Attendance April 9 Tacoma 5 Wichita 6 7,382 April 12 Tacoma 5 Wichita 4 9,561 April 16 Wichita 4 Tacoma 5 14,162 Fran O'Brien scored at 8:02 of overtime April 18 Wichita 1 Tacoma 3 17,094 Tacoma wins series 3-1
Semifinals
Cleveland vs. Minnesota Date Away Home Attendance April 25 Minnesota 2 Cleveland 5 18,797 April 27 Minnesota 6 Cleveland 2 16,877 May 2 Cleveland 5 Minnesota 6 10,254 Thompson Usiyan scored at 2:08 of overtime May 4 Cleveland 3 Minnesota 7 10,351 Minnesota wins series 3-1 San Diego vs. Tacoma Date Away Home Attendance April 23 Tacoma 4 San Diego 10 8,308 April 29 Tacoma 2 San Diego 7 9,432 May 1 San Diego 3 Tacoma 4 15,290 May 7 San Diego 8 Tacoma 5 19,476 San Diego wins series 3-1
Championship Series
San Diego vs. Minnesota Date Away Home Attendance May 9 Minnesota 2 San Diego 7 10,370 May 11 Minnesota 6 San Diego 1 9,172 May 16 San Diego 2 Minnesota 7 15,756 May 18 San Diego 3 Minnesota 4 15,849 May 21 Minnesota 4 San Diego 7 10,613 May 23 San Diego 6 Minnesota 3 15,944 May 26 Minnesota 3 San Diego 5 10,613 San Diego wins series 4-3
Regular season player statistics
Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Steve Zungul San Diego/Tacoma 46 55 60 115 Erik Rasmussen Wichita Wings 47 67 41 108 Branko Segota San Diego Sockers 45 60 46 106 Tatu Dallas Sidekicks 44 49 32 81 Craig Allen Cleveland Force 43 50 31 81 Stan Stamenkovic Baltimore Blast 45 37 44 81 Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting 43 28 47 75 Chico Borja Wichita Wings 37 33 41 74 Preki Tacoma Stars 48 41 30 71 Hugo Perez San Diego Sockers 41 41 25 66
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 LKeith Van Eron Baltimore Blast 27 1491 91 3.66 14 10Jim Gorsek San Diego Sockers 24 1323 82 3.72 19 2 David Brcic Pittsburgh Spirit 43 2659 167 3.77 21 22Mike Dowler Tacoma Stars 23 1327 92 4.16 9 12Zoltán Tóth San Diego Sockers 28 1562 109 4.19 17 9 Cris Vaccaro Cleveland Force 36 2012 143 4.26 19 14 Victor Nogueira Chicago Sting 37 1905 137 4.31 17 14 Tino Lettieri Minnesota Strikers 41 2386 175 4.40 24 15Krys Sobieski Dallas Sidekicks 40 2469 182 4.42 24 16Slobo Illjevski St. Louis Steamers 39 2178 163 4.49 19 17
Playoff player statistics
Scoring leaders
GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Branko Segota San Diego Sockers 13 13 19 32 Brian Quinn San Diego Sockers 13 13 10 23 Jan Goossens Minnesota Strikers 15 12 9 21 Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers 15 9 10 19 Thompson Usiyan Minnesota Strikers 15 11 8 19 Juli Veee San Diego Sockers 15 8 11 19
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 LP.J. Johns Cleveland Force 5 277 14 3.03 3 1Tino Lettieri Minnesota Strikers 15 866 51 3.52 9 6Zoltán Tóth San Diego Sockers 7 414 27 3.09 5 2 Scott Manning Baltimore Blast 3 175 13 4.45 3 1Seamus McDonough Wichita Wings 2 128 10 4.65 1 1
All-MISL teams First Team Position Second Team David Brcic, Pittsburgh GJim Gorsek, San DiegoKim Roentved, Wichita DBruce Savage, BaltimoreFernando Clavijo, San Diego DBernie James, ClevelandBranko Segota, San Diego MChico Borja, WichitaSteve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma FTatu, DallasErik Rasmussen, Wichita FCraig Allen, Cleveland
Honorable Mention Position Krys Sobieski, Dallas GKevin Crow, San Diego DVictor Moreland, Dallas DBrian Quinn, San Diego FStan Stamenkovic, Baltimore F
League awards Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma Scoring Champion: Steve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma Pass Master: Steve Zungul, San Diego/Tacoma Defender of the Year: Kim Roentved, Wichita Rookie of the Year: Dave Boncek, Kansas City Comets Goalkeeper of the Year: Keith Van Eron, Baltimore Coach of the Year: Gordon Jago, Dallas Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Brian Quinn, San Diego
Team attendance totals ClubGamesTotalAverageCleveland Force24307,04012,793Kansas City Comets24298,26912,428Baltimore Blast24246,04610,252St. Louis Steamers24244,54310,189San Diego Sockers24229,9359,581Wichita Wings24202,7258,447Pittsburgh Spirit 24186,5977,775Tacoma Stars24182,6967,612Chicago Sting24176,2877,345Dallas Sidekicks24165,6946,904Minnesota Strikers24156,0716,503Los Angeles Lazers24114,4804,770OVERALL288 2,510,3838,717
References
External links The Year in American Soccer – 1986 1986 page – Dallas Sidekicks Memorial Archive 1985-86 summary at The MISL: A Look Back