1986–87 American Indoor Soccer Association season


Statistics of the American Indoor Soccer Association in the 1986–87 season.

Overview

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.

Regular season

G = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Winning Percentage, GB = Games Behind Leader, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against
Northern DivisionGWL%GBGFGAHomeRoad
Canton Invaders423111.738–25516519-212-9
Chicago Shoccers422616.619523220016-510-11
Toledo Pride421428.333171792107-147-14
Milwaukee Wave421230.286191482225-167-14

Southern DivisionGWL%GBGFGAHomeRoad
Louisville Thunder422715.643–21318114-713-8
Memphis Storm422418.571318016614-710-11
Tampa Bay Rowdies422121.500617017214-77-14
Fort Wayne Flames421329.310141572187-146-15

AISA League Leaders

Scoring

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Rudy PikuzinskiCanton42513081
Zoran SavicLouisville41423477
Salvador ValenciaChicago40472875
Carlos SalgueroToledo42452368
Elvis ComrieChicago40373168
Kia ZolgharnainCanton42343166
Chris HellenkampLouisville41263662
Steve WegerleTampa Bay35263662
Jim GabarraLouisville40362359
Oscar AlbuquerqueMemphis24351853

Goalkeeping

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; Sho = Shots faced; Svs = Saves; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMin*ShoSvsGAGAAWL
Yaro DachniwskyMemphis18958432187533.33108
Jamie SwannerCanton241402600312843.59194
Arnie MausserTampa Bay3520748914361263.641916
Victor PetroniLouisville261392671339944.05148
Bill NaumovskiCanton201012504222764.10127
*

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 and Canton goalie, Jamie Swanner, were named the game's offensive and defensive MVPs respectively. 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.

Southern Division roster

Starters Position Reserves
Victor Petroni, LouisvilleGArnie Mausser, Tampa Bay
Gregg Willin, MemphisDTom Alioto, Fort Wayne • Peter Roe, Tampa Bay
Paul Kato, LouisvilleDGlenn Ervine, Tampa Bay
Chris Hellenkamp, LouisvilleMTony Carbognani, Memphis • Mark Lugris, Fort Wayne
Steve Wegerle, Tampa BayFJim Gabarra, Louisville
Zoran Savic, LouisvilleF*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 Position Reserves
Jamie Swanner, CantonGRick Schweizer, Milwaukee
Oscar Pisano, CantonDWalt Schlothauer, Canton • Tim Tyma, Canton
Martin Rancon, ChicagoDJohn Dolinsky, Milwaukee
Don Tobin, CantonMArt Kramer, Canton • Ruben Stivan, Chicago
Carlos Salguero, ToledoFElvis Comrie, Chicago
Salvador Valencia, ChicagoFRudy Pikuzinski, Canton

Match report

Playoffs

First Round

Semifinals

Finals

All-AISA first team

All-AISA second team

Post season awards