American Indoor Soccer Association
Season1986–87
ChampionsLouisville Thunder
Matches played168
Goals scored1,534 (9.13 per match)
Top goalscorerRudy Pikuzinski (51)

The 1986–87 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the third season of the league. The Columbus Capitals and Kalamazoo Kangaroos did not return after the 1985–86 season. Four teams, including former NASL stalwarts, Tampa Bay Rowdies, joined the league in 1986–87. The Fort Wayne Flames, Memphis Storm and Toledo Pride were all newly formed expansion teams. The addition of Tampa Bay in particular, and Memphis to a lesser degree, marked the AISA's first clubs outside of the Midwest. Rudy Pikuzinski of Canton won the league scoring title en route to his first of three straight MVP awards, while Memphis boss Terry Nicholl took home Coach of the Year honors.

Just as in previous AISA seasons, Canton and Louisville proved to be the class of the league and faced each other in the finals for a third straight year. For the first time the championship series went the full five games, and in a clash of titans, the Thunder finally bested their rivals, three games to two. Alas, the Thunder's glory would be short lived, as Game 5 proved to be their final match ever. Ownership, no longer able to bear the financial losses, opted to shut the team down instead trying to defend their crown for 1987–88.[1]

League standings

Northern Division

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD PCT GB
1 Canton Invaders 42 31 11 255 165 +90 .738
2 Chicago Shoccers 42 26 16 232 200 +32 .619 5
3 Toledo Pride 42 14 28 179 210 31 .333 17
4 Milwaukee Wave 42 12 30 148 222 74 .286 19
Source: RSSSF

Southern Division

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD PCT GB
1 Louisville Thunder 42 27 15 213 181 +32 .643
2 Memphis Storm 42 24 18 180 166 +14 .571 3
3 Tampa Bay Rowdies 42 21 21 170 172 2 .500 6
4 Fort Wayne Flames 42 13 29 157 218 61 .310 14
Source: RSSSF

All-Star Game

On February 21 the Louisville Thunder hosted the AISA All-Star Game. Instead of using the Thunder's home field of Broadbent Arena at the state fairgrounds, the match was played at the more intimate Louisville Gardens in downtown Louisville. In a departure from the previous season, both squads were composed of mixed rosters. In the past, the host team had faced all-stars from the rest of the league's teams. The Northern Division all-stars wore blue jerseys, while the Southern squad wore grey. Players on the winning side each received a $100 bonus. The Northern Division squad defeated their Southern counterparts by a score of 7–5. Louisville forward Zoran Savic (1 goal, 2 assists) and Canton goalie, Jamie Swanner (11 saves, 2 goals given), were named the game's offensive and defensive MVPs respectively.[2] Although neither game would come to pass, it was also announced that the 1988 All-Star game would be hosted by Tampa Bay, with the 1989 game being awarded to Milwaukee.[3]

Southern Division roster

Starters Pos Reserves
Victor Petroni, Louisville G Arnie Mausser, Tampa Bay
Gregg Willin, Memphis
Paul Kato, Louisville
D Tom Alioto, Fort Wayne
Peter Roe, Tampa Bay
Glenn Ervine, Tampa Bay
Chris Hellenkamp, Louisville M Tony Carbognani, Memphis
Mark Lugris, Fort Wayne
Steve Wegerle, Tampa Bay
Zoran Savic, Louisville
F Jim Gabarra, Louisville
Tim Walters*, Tampa Bay

*Original selection Rubén Astigarraga of Tampa Bay was unable to play and was replaced by teammate Tim Walters.

Northern Division roster

Starters Pos Reserves
Jamie Swanner, Canton G Rick Schweizer, Milwaukee
Oscar Pisano, Canton
Martin Rancon, Chicago
D Walt Schlothauer, Canton
Tim Tyma, Canton
John Dolinsky, Milwaukee
Don Tobin, Canton M Art Kramer, Canton
Ruben Stivan, Chicago
Carlos Salguero, Toledo
Salvador Valencia, Chicago
F Elvis Comrie, Chicago
Rudy Pikuzinski, Canton

Match report

Northern Division7–5Southern Division
report

Playoffs

First Round Semifinals Finals
1 Canton Invaders 4 5
4 Memphis Storm 4 4 3 4 Memphis Storm 3 3
5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 5 2 1 Canton Invaders 6 2 4 4 4
2 Louisville Thunder 5 3 5 2 6
2 Louisville Thunder 7 5
3 Chicago Shoccers 4 7 1 3 Chicago Shoccers 3 4
6 Toledo Pride 5 3 0

League leaders

Scoring

Player Team GP G A Pts
Rudy Pikuzinski Canton 42513081
Zoran Savic Louisville 41423477
Salvador Valencia Chicago 40472875
Carlos Salguero Toledo 42452368
Elvis Comrie Chicago 40373168
Kia Zolgharnain Canton 42343166
Chris Hellenkamp Louisville 41263662
Steve Wegerle Tampa Bay 35263662
Jim Gabarra Louisville 40362359
Oscar Albuquerque Memphis 24351853

Goalkeeping

Player Team GP Min SA SV GA GAA W L
Yaro Dachniwsky Memphis 18958432187533.33108
Jamie Swanner Canton 241402600312843.59194
Arnie Mausser Tampa Bay 3520748914361263.641916
Victor Petroni Louisville 261392671339944.05148
Bill Naumovski Canton 201012504222764.10127

League awards

All-AISA teams

First Team Pos Second Team
Jamie Swanner, Canton G Arnie Mausser, Tampa Bay
Tim Tyma, Canton D Tomo Condric, Canton
Gregg Willin, Memphis D Martin Rincon, Chicago
Chris Hellenkamp, Louisville M Elvis Comrie, Chicago
Zoran Savic, Louisville F Salvador Valencia, Chicago
Rudy Pikuzinski, Canton F Carlos Salguero, Toledo

References

  1. Lilley, Bill (February 8, 1988). "Whole league 'biting bullet'". Akron Beacon Journal. p. A1. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  2. Younkin, Lou (February 22, 1987). "North team, Louisville Gardens are AISA all-star game winners". The Courier Journal. p. C1. Retrieved June 14, 2017 via newspapers.com.
  3. Younkin, Lou (February 20, 1987). "Smaller arena may enliven All-Star Game action". The Courier Journal. p. D6. Retrieved June 14, 2017 via newspapers.com.
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