1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League season

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 NBA Denver Nuggets 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

Map of clubs

Regular season schedule

Main article: 1986–87 Major Indoor Soccer League 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.

Playoffs

| RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1=Cleveland Force | RD1-score1=3 | RD1-seed2=E4 | RD1-team2=Minnesota Strikers | RD1-score2=2

| RD1-seed3=E2 | RD1-team3=Baltimore Blast | RD1-score3=2 | RD1-seed4=E3 | RD1-team4=Dallas Sidekicks | RD1-score4=3

| RD1-seed5=W1 | RD1-team5=Tacoma Stars | RD1-score5=3 | RD1-seed6=W4 | RD1-team6=Wichita Wings | RD1-score6=2

| RD1-seed7=W2 | RD1-team7=Kansas City Comets | RD1-score7=2 | RD1-seed8=W3 | RD1-team8=San Diego Sockers | RD1-score8=3

| RD2-seed1=E1 | RD2-team1=Cleveland Force | RD2-score1=1 | RD2-seed2=E3 | RD2-team2=Dallas Sidekicks | RD2-score2=4

| RD2-seed3=W1 | RD2-team3=Tacoma Stars | RD2-score3=4 | RD2-seed4=W3 | RD2-team4=San Diego Sockers | RD2-score4=3

| RD3-seed1=E3 | RD3-team1=Dallas Sidekicks | RD3-score1=4 | RD3-seed2=W1 | RD3-team2=Tacoma Stars | RD3-score2=3

Division Semifinals

|}

|}

Division Finals

|}

Championship Series

Regular Season Player Statistics

Scoring leaders

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

Leading Goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses

Playoff Player Statistics

Scoring leaders

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

Leading Goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses

All-MISL Teams

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

References

References

1. "New York Express". Fun While It Lasted.
2. (February 17, 1987). "Express Goes Out Of Business". [[Schenectady Gazette]].
3. (June 1, 1986). "MISL plans to expand semis to five games". [[Lawrence Journal-World]].
4. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".
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]].
6. Appleman, Marc. (May 8, 1987). "Sockers of Old Win in Overtime". [[Los Angeles Times]].
7. Appleman, Marc. (June 5, 1987). "Fate Finally Catches Up With Sockers". [[Los Angeles Times]].
8. (June 10, 1986). "MISL Sidekicks fold". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
9. (July 1, 1986). "SIDEKICKS PURCHASE BACK ON". [[Wichita Eagle]].
10. (June 21, 1987). "Overtime Goal Gives Dallas Title". [[Los Angeles Times]].
11. (June 19, 1987). "Sidekicks win, force 7th game". [[Ellensburg Daily Record]].
12. (June 26, 1987). "MISL awards Denver expansion franchise". [[Eugene Register-Guard]].
13. (November 6, 1987). "MISL team folds". [[Wilmington Morning Star]].
14. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".
15. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".
16. (1987). "MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide".