The 1996 Florida Strikers season was the first season of the new team in the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues, playing in the USISL Premier League. It was also the thirtieth season of the club in professional soccer. Previously the club had been named Fort Lauderdale Strikers and fielded a team in the USISL Professional League. This year, the team finished in third place in the Southern Division, and did not make the playoffs.
Background
Review
Competitions
USISL Premier League regular season
Blue denotes team has won their division. Green denotes team has won playoff spot. Orange denotes team gets bye into semifinals as defending champion.
Central Conference
Northern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1Lexington Bluegrass Bandits*1410413218 +14282Michigan Madness*149512428 -4253Detroit Dynamite*148613419 +15224Mid-Michigan Bucks*148612418 +6225Kalamazoo Kingdom145901822 -4156Grand Rapids Explosion**7070621 +150 * Detroit, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Michigan were all penalized 3 points. ** Grand Rapids did not have a home stadium this year, and played only road games.
Southern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1 Austin Lone Stars1410404117 +24302Omaha Flames148603922 +17243Sioux City Breeze*139422623 +3234Des Moines Menace147702221 +1215Oklahoma City Heat147702226 -4216Wichita Blue 135801833 -1515 * Sioux City was penalized 6 points. The game between Sioux City and Wichita was postponed and could not be rescheduled before end of the season. The game was cancelled because it had no effect on the playoffs.
Eastern Conference
Northern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1Roanoke River Dawgs1410404828 +20302Jackson Chargers*148613424 +10223Nashville Metros*147723426 +8174Birmingham Grasshoppers1441002033 -1312 * Nashville was penalized 6 points. Jackson was penalized 3 points.
Southern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1Cocoa Expos*1410414522 +23282Orlando Lions*149512528 -3253Florida Strikers*147713133 -2194West Florida Fury145902936 -7155Miami Breakers1441002937 -8126South Florida Future1401401763 -460 * Cocoa, Florida, and Orlando were all penalized 3 points.
Western Conference
Northern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1Spokane Shadow*1412213417 +17342San Francisco Bay Seals1410403515 +20303Colorado Springs Stampede*149512012 +8254Puget Sound Hammers148603123 +8245Willamette Valley Firebirds145902131 -10156Bellingham Orcas1431101750 -339
* Colorado Springs and Spokane were both penalized 3 points.
Southern Division PlaceTeamPWLSWGFGAGDPoints1Central Coast Roadrunners*1412213816 +22342San Diego Top Guns*149512822 +6253Arizona Phoenix147703231 +1214Tucson Amigos147702429 -5215Fontana Falcons145903132 -1156Southern California Gunners1431101928 -99
* Central Coast and San Diego were both penalized 3 points
Results summaries
Results by round
Match reports
USISL Premier League Playoffs
Bracket
Match reports
Statistics
Transfers
References