1985–86 Major Indoor Soccer League season


The 1985–86 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the eighth in league history and ended with the San Diego Sockers winning their third MISL title in four seasons over the Minnesota Strikers. It was the Sockers' fifth straight indoor title, as they had also won the North American Soccer League's indoor league in 1982 and 1984.

Recap

For the most part, the league format remained unchanged. A 48-game season would be followed with an eight-team playoff, similar to the playoff system used from 1982 to 1984. There would be one major change in gameplay, however. The shootout, part of the MISL since its inception, was dropped in favor of multiple overtime periods to decide games, if necessary. There was a steady national TV contract for the first time since 1983, as ESPN would televise 15 regular-season games and assorted playoff games.
The East and West division races were a study in contrasts. San Diego ran away with the West again, despite selling reigning league MVP Steve Zungul to the Tacoma Stars for $200,000 halfway through the regular season. Tacoma would go 11-8 with Zungul, who won the league scoring title for the sixth time in the MISL's eight years. However, the Stars lost in four games to the Sockers in the league semifinals.
In the East, the six-team division was separated by only four games. The playoff positions were only confirmed when the Baltimore Blast defeated the Pittsburgh Spirit in the season finale. The Dallas Sidekicks switched divisions and promptly won 13 more games than the previous year, making the playoffs for the first time and earning Gordon Jago Coach of the Year honors.
For the second straight year, the Strikers and Sockers went to a deciding game in their playoff matchup. San Diego became the first team to rally from a two-game deficit to win a MISL playoff series, as the Strikers' 3-1 lead in the championship series disappeared under three straight Socker wins. In the first seventh game in MISL history, the Sockers held off a late Minnesota charge to win 5-3. San Diego's Brian Quinn scored two goals and an assist on his way to playoff MVP honors.
After the season, the Spirit folded, and the league made plans to return to New York with an expansion franchise.

Teams

Regular season schedule

The 1985–86 regular season schedule ran from October 25, 1985, to April 6, 1986. Despite the loss of two teams from the 1984-85 lineup, the schedule remained at 48 games.

Final standings

Playoff teams in bold.
Eastern DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
Cleveland Force2721.563--25221215-912-12
Minnesota Strikers2622.542123224216-810-14
Dallas Sidekicks2523.521222023116-89-15
Baltimore Blast2424.500321120117-77-17
Chicago Sting2325.479419619614-109-15
Pittsburgh Spirit2325.479422123718-65-19

Western DivisionWLPct.GBGFGAHomeRoad
San Diego Sockers3612.750--30819521-315-9
Wichita Wings2721.563925822615-912-12
Tacoma Stars2325.4791320823215-98-16
St. Louis Steamers2325.4791322323316-87-17
Kansas City Comets1830.3751821726812-126-18
Los Angeles Lazers1335.271231972709-154-20

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship Series

Regular season player statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Steve ZungulSan Diego/Tacoma465560115
Erik RasmussenWichita Wings476741108
Branko SegotaSan Diego Sockers456046106
TatuDallas Sidekicks44493281
Craig AllenCleveland Force43503181
Stan StamenkovicBaltimore Blast45374481
Karl-Heinz GranitzaChicago Sting43284775
Chico BorjaWichita Wings37334174
PrekiTacoma Stars48413071
Hugo PerezSan Diego Sockers41412566

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWL
Keith Van EronBaltimore Blast271491913.661410
Jim GorsekSan Diego Sockers241323823.72192
David BrcicPittsburgh Spirit4326591673.772122
Mike DowlerTacoma Stars231327924.16912
Zoltán TóthSan Diego Sockers2815621094.19179
Cris VaccaroCleveland Force3620121434.261914
Victor NogueiraChicago Sting3719051374.311714
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers4123861754.402415
Krys SobieskiDallas Sidekicks4024691824.422416
Slobo IlljevskiSt. Louis Steamers3921781634.491917

Playoff player statistics

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Branko SegotaSan Diego Sockers13131932
Brian QuinnSan Diego Sockers13131023
Jan GoossensMinnesota Strikers1512921
Jean WillrichSan Diego Sockers1591019
Thompson UsiyanMinnesota Strikers1511819
Juli VeeeSan Diego Sockers1581119

Leading goalkeepers

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses
PlayerTeamGPMinGAGAAWL
P.J. JohnsCleveland Force5277143.0331
Tino LettieriMinnesota Strikers15866513.5296
Zoltán TóthSan Diego Sockers7414273.0952
Scott ManningBaltimore Blast3175134.4531
Seamus McDonoughWichita Wings2128104.6511

All-MISL teams

Honorable Mention Position
Krys Sobieski, DallasG
Kevin Crow, San DiegoD
Victor Moreland, DallasD
Brian Quinn, San DiegoF
Stan Stamenkovic, BaltimoreF

League Awards