1984–85 Major Indoor Soccer League season

August 2023 Major Indoor Soccer League 1984–85 San Diego Sockers(2nd title) YUG Steve Zungul (68 goals) 328 3163 8,599 1983–84 1985–86 The 1984–85 Major Indoor Soccer League season was the seventh in league history and ended with the San Diego Sockers winning their second MISL title in three seasons over the Baltimore Blast. It was the Sockers' fourth straight indoor title, as they had also won the North American Soccer League's indoor league in the spring of 1984. Recap With the NASL near death in the summer of 1984, a handful of teams made plans to switch from outdoor to indoor soccer once the NASL season ended in October.Miranda Randy Four NASL squads will play in MISL August 10, 1984 Lakeland Ledger https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q9QvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZfsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5145,3596493&dq=nasl+misl&hl=en D1 2012-05-08 Along with the Sockers, the Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers and New York Cosmos formally made the leap in late August.MISL takes four NASL teams August 31, 1984 Boca Raton News https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YaZYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xYwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4506,9574674&dq=nasl+misl&hl=en 2C 2012-05-08 With the addition of the Dallas Sidekicks, the league went back to a 14-team, two-division setup. With an influx of new teams, the league expanded the playoffs even further. 10 teams would qualify, the top three in each division and the next best four wild-card teams. The wild-card teams would play a best-of-three series. The second and third round were best-of-five series, and the championship round would be a best-of-seven series. Each successive round would see the winners reseeded, similar to the NHL playoff format used for almost 20 years.1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide 1984 34 While the Sting and Strikers made the playoffs, the Cosmos struggled. On February 22, with their record at 11-22, the team announced they were pulling out of the MISL effective immediately.Cosmos pull out of MISL, NASL February 23, 1985 Ellensburg Daily Record https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJlUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R48DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3301,5767072&dq=cosmos&hl=en 11 2012-05-08 The league would scramble to fill out the schedule,MISL revises schedule after Cosmos pullout February 24, 1985 Gainesville Sun https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aj1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z-kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6826,3224485&dq=cosmos&hl=en 10F 2012-05-08 but only the Wichita Wings would play an uneven number of games. The Strikers would make a run from the wildcard series to the league semifinals, only falling to San Diego in a decisive fifth game. Trailing in the series two games to one, Minnesota actually lost the fourth game in a shootout,Dolan Steve It Takes Sockers 14 Shooters in the Shootout to Win May 13, 1985 Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-13-sp-10010-story.html 2012-05-08 but lodged a protest with commissioner Francis Dale over San Diego's shooting order. Dale upheld the protest and declared the Strikers winners.Sockers' Semifinal Playoff Victory Overturned by MISL Commissioner May 14, 1985 Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-14-sp-19252-story.html 2012-05-08 Despite the Sockers only being made aware of the fifth game once they landed at the San Diego airport, they shut out Minnesota to win the seriesSockers Win, 7-0, to Gain MISL Final May 15, 1985 Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-15-sp-8675-story.html 2012-05-08 This would be the final year the MISL would have games aired on network television, CBS broadcast Game 4 of the championship series live on May 25.Sarni Jim Blast For Soccer Fans: CBS Airs MISL Game May 25, 1985 South Florida Sun-Sentinel http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-05-25/sports/8501200962_1_misl-all-star-game-cbs-radio-american-cable 2012-05-08 2012-07-16 https://archive.today/20120716015450/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1985-05-25/sports/8501200962_1_misl-all-star-game-cbs-radio-american-cable dead Despite having the league's third-best record, the Las Vegas Americans would be terminated by the league after the season due to financial difficulties.MISL board terminates Las Vegas franchise July 18, 1985 Lawrence Journal-World https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87kxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=k-UFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6711,3661497&dq=las+vegas+americans&hl=en 18 2012-05-08 Teams TeamCity/AreaArenaBaltimore BlastBaltimore Baltimore ArenaChicago StingChicago Chicago StadiumCleveland ForceCleveland Richfield ColiseumDallas SidekicksDallas Reunion ArenaKansas City CometsKansas City, Missouri Kemper ArenaLas Vegas AmericansParadise, Nevada Thomas & Mack Center Los Angeles LazersInglewood, California The ForumMinnesota StrikersBloomington, MinnesotaMet Center New York CosmosEast Rutherford, New Jersey Brendan Byrne ArenaPittsburgh SpiritPittsburgh Civic Arena (Pittsburgh) San Diego SockersSan Diego San Diego Sports ArenaSt. Louis SteamersSt. LouisSt. Louis ArenaTacoma Stars Tacoma, Washington Tacoma DomeWichita WingsWichita, Kansas Kansas Coliseum Map of clubs left 10px Eastern Division 10px Western Division 1090 500 300 425 355 North America 870 North America 39.29 -76.62 Blue pog.svg 80 right Blast North America 41.25 -81.59 Blue pog.svg 80 top Force North America 41.88 -87.67 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Sting North America 44.86 -93.24 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Strikers North America 40.81 -74.07 Blue pog.svg 80 right Cosmos North America 40.44 -79.99 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Spirit North America 38.63 -90.28 Blue pog.svg 80 bottom Steamers North America 32.77 -96.81 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Sidekicks North America 39.09 -94.61 Red pog.svg 80 top Comets North America 36.11 -115.14 Red pog.svg 80 top Americans North America 33.96 -118.34 Red pog.svg 80 left Lazers North America 32.76 -117.21 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Sockers North America 47.24 -122.43 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Stars North America 37.84 -97.32 Red pog.svg 80 bottom Wings Regular season schedule The 1984–85 regular season schedule ran from November 2, 1984, to April 14, 1985. Despite the Cosmos leaving the league in mid-season, each team played their scheduled 48 games with the exception of Wichita.1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide 1984 50–54 Final standings Playoff teams in bold. Eastern Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road Baltimore Blast 3216.667 --25219019-513-11 Chicago Sting 2820.583426122320-48-16 Cleveland Force 2721.563523922815-912-12 Minnesota Strikers 2424.500822422616-88-16 St. Louis Steamers 2424.500821120716-88-16 Pittsburgh Spirit 1929.3961321725616-83-21New York Cosmos 1122.33313½1371857-94-13 Western Division W L Pct. GB GF GA Home Road San Diego Sockers 3711.771-- 30220118-619-5Las Vegas Americans 3018.625726921418-612-12 Los Angeles Lazers 2424.5001323223014-1010-14 Kansas City Comets 2226.4581521622113-119-15 Wichita Wings 2126.43715½20223314-107-16 Tacoma Stars 1731.3542020726311-136-18 Dallas Sidekicks 1236.333251942868-164-20 Playoffs Wildcard Series Division Semifinals Division Finals Championship Series WC2 St. Louis Steamers 1 WC3 Kansas City Comets 2 WC1 Minnesota Strikers 2 WC4 Wichita Wings 1 1 San Diego Sockers 3 8 Kansas City Comets 0 3 Las Vegas Americans 1 6 Minnesota Strikers 3 2 Baltimore Blast 3 7 Los Angeles Lazers 0 4 Chicago Sting 2 5 Cleveland Force 3 1 San Diego Sockers 3 6 Minnesota Strikers 2 2 Baltimore Blast 3 5 Cleveland Force 2 1 San Diego Sockers 4 2 Baltimore Blast 1 Wildcard Series Minnesota vs. Wichita Date Away Home Attendance April 17 Wichita 1 Minnesota 2 4,233 April 19 Minnesota 3 Wichita 8 7,053 April 21 Wichita 2 Minnesota 3 4,032 Jan Goossens scored at 2:45 of overtime Minnesota wins series 2-1 St. Louis vs. Kansas City Date Away Home Attendance April 17 Kansas City 5 St. Louis 4 7,636 Damir Haramina scored at 8:14 of overtime April 19 St. Louis 3 Kansas City 2 10,241 Tasso Koutsoukos scored at 1:22 of overtime Kansas City wins series 2-0 Quarterfinals San Diego vs. Kansas City Date Away Home Attendance April 24 Kansas City 3 San Diego 4 7,552 Brian Quinn scored at 11:45 of overtime April 26 Kansas City 7 San Diego 11 9,560 April 28 San Diego 3 Kansas City 2 10,458 San Diego wins series 3-0 Chicago vs. Cleveland Date Away Home Attendance April 19 Cleveland 5 Chicago 4 6,550 Peter Ward scored at 10:31 of overtime April 21 Cleveland 4 Chicago 8 5,005 April 24 Chicago 1 Cleveland 6 8,112 April 27 Chicago 4 Cleveland 5 11,248 Keith Furphy scored at 5:01 of overtime Cleveland wins series 3-1 Baltimore vs. Los Angeles Date Away Home Attendance April 24 Los Angeles 3 Baltimore 4 7,108 April 26 Los Angeles 3 Baltimore 11 9,493 April 28 Baltimore 5 Los Angeles 4 4,746 Baltimore wins series 3-0 Las Vegas vs. Minnesota Date Away Home Attendance April 24 Minnesota 6 Las Vegas 5 5,278 April 26 Minnesota 4 Las Vegas 6 6,016 April 28 Las Vegas 2 Minnesota 3 7,134 May 1 Las Vegas 1 Minnesota 4 5,094 Minnesota wins series 3-1 Semifinals San Diego vs. Minnesota Date Away Home Attendance May 5 Minnesota 1 San Diego 8 8,494 May 8 Minnesota 5 San Diego 6 10,143 Jean Willrich scored at 1:15 of overtime May 10 San Diego 5 Minnesota 8 8,270 May 12 San Diego 3 Minnesota 4 7,871 Minnesota wins shootout 3-2** May 14 Minnesota 0 San Diego 7 10,059 San Diego wins series 3-2 Baltimore vs. Cleveland Date Away Home Attendance May 3 Cleveland 5 Baltimore 6 7,568 May 5 Cleveland 5 Baltimore 3 8,205 May 10 Baltimore 3 Cleveland 4 13,093 May 11 Baltimore 7 Cleveland 6 13,861 May 14 Cleveland 4 Baltimore 7 9,184 Baltimore wins series 3-2 **San Diego won the shootout 4-3, but Minnesota appealed the result, as the Sockers used an ineligible player. The Strikers were declared winners on May 13. Championship Series San Diego vs. Baltimore Date Away Home Attendance May 17 Baltimore 4 San Diego 5 11,639 May 19 Baltimore 3 San Diego 7 12,185 May 23 San Diego 6 Baltimore 10 11,074 May 25 San Diego 14 Baltimore 2 9,084 May 28 Baltimore 3 San Diego 5 12,948 San Diego wins series 4-1 Regular season player statistics MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide 1987 51 Scoring leaders GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Steve Zungul San Diego Sockers 48 68 68 136 Karl-Heinz Granitza Chicago Sting 47 64 53 117 Branko Segota San Diego Sockers 46 66 40 106 Stan Stamenkovic Baltimore Blast 43 39 52 91 Tatu Dallas Sidekicks 43 59 29 88 Dale Mitchell Tacoma Stars 48 55 32 87 Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers 48 43 43 86 Fred Grgurev Las Vegas Americans 48 48 29 77 Craig Allen Cleveland Force 42 45 30 75 Jan Goossens Minnesota Strikers 48 49 24 73 Leading goalkeepers Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses Player Team GP Min GA GAA W LScott Manning Baltimore Blast 36 2080 135 3.89 23 11Slobo Illjevski St. Louis Steamers 30 1681 112 4.00 11 12Jim Gorsek San Diego Sockers 30 1665 112 4.04 19 8 Manny Schwartz Kansas City Comets 40 2192 152 4.16 19 15Alan Mayer Las Vegas Americans 30 1759 124 4.23 17 12Victor Nogueira Chicago Sting 43 2440 162 4.34 23 15 Tino Lettieri Minnesota Strikers 45 2672 198 4.45 24 21Cris Vaccaro Cleveland Force 27 1453 108 4.46 16 8 Mike Dowler Wichita Wings 41 2394 179 4.49 20 20John Baretta Tacoma Stars 31 1637 127 4.65 11 13 Playoff player statistics MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide 1987 80 Scoring leaders GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points Player Team GP G A Pts Steve Zungul San Diego Sockers 13 13 24 37 Branko Segota San Diego Sockers 13 22 8 30 Jean Willrich San Diego Sockers 13 11 12 23 Brian Quinn San Diego Sockers 13 11 11 22 Andy Chapman Cleveland Force 9 14 5 19 Stan Stamenkovic Baltimore Blast 11 8 11 19 Leading goalkeepers Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses Player Team GP Min GA GAA W LJim Gorsek San Diego Sockers 9 516 21 2.44 7 1 Mike Dowler Wichita Wings 3 180 8 2.67 1 2Cris Vaccaro Cleveland Force 9 546 38 4.18 5 3Slobo Ilijevski St. Louis Steamers 2 129 9 4.19 0 2Tino Lettieri Minnesota Strikers 11 667 51 4.59 6 5Manny Schwartz Kansas City Comets 4 222 17 4.59 2 2 All-MISL teams First Team   Position   Second Team Scott Manning, Baltimore GSlobo Ilijevski, St. LouisMike Stankovic, Baltimore DJorge Espinoza, Las VegasBranko Segota, San Diego DJean Willrich, San DiegoKevin Crow, San Diego MKim Roentved, WichitaSteve Zungul, San Diego FStan Stamenkovic, BaltimoreKarl-Heinz Granitza, Chicago FTatu, Dallas Honorable Mention   Position  Jim Gorsek, San Diego GBruce Savage, Baltimore DGerry Gray, Chicago DBenny Dargle, Cleveland MDale Mitchell, Tacoma FFred Grgurev, Las Vegas F League awards Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, San Diego Scoring Champion: Steve Zungul, San Diego Pass Master: Steve Zungul, San Diego Defender of the Year: Kevin Crow, San Diego Rookie of the Year: Ali Kazemaini, Cleveland Goalkeeper of the Year: Scott Manning, Baltimore Coach of the Year: Peter Wall, Los Angeles Championship Series Most Valuable Player: Steve Zungul, San Diego Team attendance totals ClubGamesTotalAverageCleveland Force24310,28412,929Kansas City Comets24310,01712,917St. Louis Steamers24305,05412,711Baltimore Blast24265,22411,051Chicago Sting24255,07310,628San Diego Sockers24230,2729,595Wichita Wings24209,0358,710Pittsburgh Spirit 24187,0217,793Tacoma Stars24173,3177,222Las Vegas Americans24152,0836,337Los Angeles Lazers24121,4885,062Dallas Sidekicks24119,2484,969Minnesota Strikers24115,4084,809New York Cosmos1666,9004,181OVERALL328 2,820,4248,599 References 1984-85 Dallas Sidekicks Media Guide Dallas Sidekicks 1984 Dallas 1985-86 MISL Media Guide Major Indoor Soccer League 1985 Chicago MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide Leary Dan Griffin John Major Indoor Soccer League Communications Department 1987 New York External links The Year in American Soccer – 1985 1985 page – Dallas Sidekicks Memorial Archive 1984-85 summary at The MISL: A Look Back Category:Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) seasons Maj Category:1985 in American soccer leagues