1990 American Professional Soccer League

History

On September 9, 1989, the champions of the west coast-based Western Soccer Alliance and the east coast-based American Soccer League played each other for the national championship. This was the first meeting between teams from the two leagues but was part of a larger effort to merge the two leagues. This effort resulted in the creation of the American Professional Soccer League on February 22, 1990. The merger remained one of name only as the two leagues played separate schedules and named separate MVPs and All-League teams. However, it allowed the teams to market themselves as members of a national league. During the playoffs, except for the West semifinals and the APSL finals, teams played a home and away series. However, they needed to win two games, so in the case of a tie after two games, the teams played a thirty-minute mini-game. If the game remained tied, the two teams would enter a shoot out. A shoot out pitted a field player against the opposing team's goalkeeper. The field player had five seconds to take a shot on goal beginning 35 yards from the goal.

League standings

East (American Soccer League) Conference

Points:

• Win: 3
• Shoot out win: 2
• Shoot out loss: 1

Northern Division

Southern Division

West (Western Soccer League) Conference

Points:

• Win: 6
• Shoot out win: 4
• Shoot out loss: 2
• 1 bonus point per goal scored in regulation, maximum of 3 per game

North Division

South Division

East Conference playoffs

East bracket

| score-width=25 | team-width=150px Best-of-3 Best-of-3 | RD1-seed1=S1 | RD1-team1=Fort Lauderdale Strikers | RD1-score1-1=3 | RD1-score1-2=2 | RD1-score1-3= - | RD1-seed2=N2 | RD1-team2=Albany Capitals | RD1-score2-1=2 | RD1-score2-2=0 | RD1-score2-3= - | RD1-seed3=N1 | RD1-team3=Maryland Bays | RD1-score3-1=2 | RD1-score3-2=4 | RD1-score3-3= - | RD1-seed4=S2 | RD1-team4=Tampa Bay Rowdies | RD1-score4-1=1 | RD1-score4-2=1 | RD1-score4-3= - | RD2-seed1=S1 | RD2-team1=Fort Lauderdale Strikers | RD2-score1-1=2 | RD2-score1-2=0 | RD2-score1-3= - | RD2-seed2=N1 | RD2-team2=Maryland Bays | RD2-score2-1=3 | RD2-score2-2=2 | RD2-score2-3= -

Semifinal 1

7:30 PM EST Paul Mariner Jimmy McGeough, Jr.
Pedro Magallanes

5:00 PM EST Alvin James Arnie Mausser Steve Stokoe The Fort Lauderdale Strikers advance to the East Finals.

Semifinal 2

8:00 PM EST Mark Wright Jean Harbor

7:00 PM EST Philip Gyau Jean Harbor
John Abe The Maryland Bays advance to the East Finals.

Conference Finals

8:00 PM EST Jean Harbor Joe Barger Darryl Gee Marcelo Carrera Troy Edwards Report 2

5:00 PM EST Ricardo Alonso Rob Ryerson Scott Cook , Omid Namazi Jean Harbor The Maryland Bays advance to the APSL Championship.

West Conference playoffs

West bracket

| score-width=25 | team-width=150px Best-of-3 Single Match Best-of-3 | RD1-seed1=S2 | RD1-team1=Real Santa Barbara | RD1-score1-1=1 | RD1-score1-2=1 | RD1-score1-3=0 | RD1-seed2=S3 | RD1-team2=Los Angeles Heat | RD1-score2-1=0 | RD1-score2-2=2 | RD1-score2-3=1 | RD1-seed3=N2 | RD1-team3=Salt Lake Sting | RD1-score3-1=0 | RD1-score3-2=1 | RD1-score3-3= - | RD1-seed4=N3 | RD1-team4=Colorado Foxes | RD1-score4-1=2 | RD1-score4-2=4 | RD1-score4-3= - | RD2-seed1=S1 | RD2-team1=California Emperors | RD2-score1-1=0 | RD2-score1-2= - | RD2-score1-3= - | RD2-seed2=S3 | RD2-team2=Los Angeles Heat | RD2-score2-1=2 | RD2-score2-2= - | RD2-score2-3= - | RD2-seed3=N1 | RD2-team3=San Francisco Bay Blackhawks | RD2-score3-1=2 | RD2-score3-2= - | RD2-score3-3= - | RD2-seed4=N3 | RD2-team4=Colorado Foxes | RD2-score4-1=1 | RD2-score4-2= - | RD2-score4-3= - | RD3-seed1=S3 | RD3-team1=Los Angeles Heat | RD3-score1-1=2 | RD3-score1-2=1*(2)* | RD3-score1-3=0 | RD3-seed2=N1 | RD3-team2=San Francisco Bay Blackhawks | RD3-score2-1=0 | RD3-score2-2=1***(4)*** | RD3-score2-3=1

First Round Series 1

6:00 PM EST

Report 2

Mike Getchell ,

Report 2 mini-game

Report 2 The Los Angeles Heat advance to the Division Finals.

First Round Series 2

Mike Mikes 10:00 PM EST Robin Fraser Efren Rodarte

The Colorado Foxes advance to the Division Finals.

Division Finals

6:00 PM EST

Jim Gabarra , , , , Report 2 The Los Angeles Heat advance to the Conference Finals.

Report 2 The San Francisco Bay Blackhawks advance to the Conference Finals.

Conference Finals

7:30 PM PST Brad Smith Report 2

8:00 PM PST Eric Wynalda Joe Flanagan Danny Pena Waldir Guerra Report 2 Steve Corpening Dave Palic Townsend Qin Steve Petuskey Mike Gregorian Bobby Bruch Mike Getchell

Report 2 The San Francisco Bay Blackhawks advance to the APSL Championship.

APSL Final

Peter Isaacs Report 2 Omid Namazi Scott Cook ? John Abe
Tim Martin Townsend Qin Marcelo Balboa Steve Petuskey The Maryland Bays win the APSL Championship.

Combined points leaders

Honors

East (American Soccer League) Conference

• MVP: Philip Gyau
• Leading goal scorer: Mike Masters
• Leading goalkeeper: Dale Caya
• Rookie of the Year: Steve Pittman
• Coach of the Year: Thomas Rongen

First Team All League

• Goalkeeper: Dale Caya
• Defenders: Steve Pittman, Paul Mariner, Brian Ainscough, George Gelnovatch
• Midfielders: Chico Borja, Marcelo Carrera, David Byrne
• Forwards: Philip Gyau, Dan Donigan, Jean Harbor

Second Team All League

• Goalkeeper: Arnie Mausser
• Defenders: Jimmy McGeough, Jr., Chris Reif, Thomas Rongen, Dave Smyth
• Midfielders: Paul Dougherty, Eric Eichmann, Pat O'Kelly
• Forwards: Mike Masters, Bruce Murray, Paul Riley

West (Western Soccer League) Conference

• MVP: Mark Dodd
• Leading goal scorer: Chance Fry
• Leading goalkeeper: Mark Dodd

** First Team All League**

• Goalkeeper: Mark Dodd
• Defenders: Marcelo Balboa, John Doyle, Robin Fraser, Danny Pena
• Midfielders: Dominic Kinnear, Fran O'Brien, George Pastor
• Forwards: Chance Fry, Mark Kerlin, Townsend Qin

Second Team All League

• Goalkeeper: Anton Nistl
• Defenders: Steve Eise, Paul Krumpe, Derek Van Rheenen, Wade Webber
• Midfielders: John Bain, Mike Fox, Jeff Rogers, Dzung Tran
• Forwards: Scott Benedetti, Paul Wright

References

References

1. [http://www.soundercentral.com/more_wsa_press_releases.htm Fort Lauderdale Rallies to Defeat San Diego]
2. ''Two outdoor leagues plan title game for fall'' St. Petersburg Times - Thursday, April 13, 1989
3. "February merger produces the American Professional Soccer League".
4. ''Merger forms one outdoor league'' The Washington Times - Friday, February 23, 1990
5. (1990-08-18). "18 Aug 1990, Page 30 - The Star-News at". Newspapers.com.