1986–87 American Indoor Soccer Association season

August 2023 March 2026 American Indoor Soccer Association 1986–87 Louisville Thunder Rudy Pikuzinski (51) 168 1534 1985–86 1987–88 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.Lilley Bill Whole league ‘biting bullet’ February 8, 1988 Akron Beacon Journal https://www.newspapers.com/image/154970706 A1 June 12, 2017 League standings Northern Division main WL percentage yes 1 CTN CHI TOL MIL 31 11 255 165 Canton Invaders 26 16 232 200 Chicago Shoccers 14 28 179 210 Toledo Pride 12 30 148 222 Milwaukee Wave green1 adv adv adv complete RSSSF Southern Division main WL percentage yes 1 LOU MEM TB FW 27 15 213 181 Louisville Thunder 24 18 180 166 Memphis Storm 21 21 170 172 Tampa Bay Rowdies 13 29 157 218 Fort Wayne Flames green1 adv adv adv complete 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.Younkin Lou North team, Louisville Gardens are AISA all-star game winners https://www.newspapers.com/image/109792958/ The Courier Journal newspapers.com February 22, 1987 C1 14 June 2017 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.Younkin Lou Smaller arena may enliven All-Star Game action https://www.newspapers.com/image/110660064/?terms=All-Star%2BGame%2Baction The Courier Journal newspapers.com February 20, 1987 D6 14 June 2017 Southern Division roster Coach: Terry Nicholl, Memphis Starters Pos Position Reserves Victor Petroni, LouisvilleG Arnie Mausser, Tampa Bay Gregg Willin, MemphisPaul Kato, LouisvilleD Tom Alioto, Fort WaynePeter Roe, Tampa BayGlenn Ervine, Tampa Bay Chris Hellenkamp, LouisvilleM Tony Carbognani, MemphisMark Lugris, Fort Wayne Steve Wegerle, Tampa BayZoran Savic, LouisvilleF Jim Gabarra, LouisvilleTim Walters*, Tampa Bay *Original selection Rubén Astigarraga of Tampa Bay was unable to play and was replaced by teammate Tim Walters. Northern Division roster Coach: Trevor Dawkins, Canton Starters Pos Position Reserves Jamie Swanner, Canton G Rick Schweizer, Milwaukee Oscar Pisano, CantonMartin Rancon, ChicagoD Walt Schlothauer, CantonTim Tyma, CantonJohn Dolinsky, Milwaukee Don Tobin, CantonM Art Kramer, CantonRuben Stivan, Chicago Carlos Salguero, ToledoSalvador Valencia, ChicagoF Elvis Comrie, ChicagoRudy Pikuzinski, Canton Match report 1987 2 21 8:05pm CST Northern Division 7–5 report Southern Division Comrie 14:18, 38:17 Dolinsky 23:42 Schlothauer 33:21 (PP) Tobin 35:09 Salguero 43:12 Kramer 59:57 Wegerle 5:31 Savic 21:37 Gabarra 46:22 (PP), 52:27 Ervine 47:32 Louisville Gardens Louisville, Kentucky 2,473 Playoffs main 3 First Round 1 / 2 / 5 / 6 3 / 3 / 5 yes high 4 Memphis Storm 4 4 3 5 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1 5 2 3 Chicago Shoccers 4 7 1 6 Toledo Pride 5 3 0 1 Canton Invaders 4 5 – 4 Memphis Storm 3 3 – 2 Louisville Thunder 7 5 – 3 Chicago Shoccers 3 4 – 1 Canton Invaders 6 2 4 4 4 2 Louisville Thunder 5 3 5 2 6 League leaders Scoring Player Team GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts PointsRudy PikuzinskiCanton 42 51 30 81Zoran SavicLouisville 41 42 34 77Salvador ValenciaChicago 40 47 28 75Carlos SalgueroToledo 42 45 23 68Elvis ComrieChicago 40 37 31 68Kia ZolgharnainCanton 42 34 31 66 Chris HellenkampLouisville 41 26 36 62Steve WegerleTampa Bay 35 26 36 62Jim GabarraLouisville 40 36 23 59Oscar AlbuquerqueMemphis 24 35 18 53 Goalkeeping Player Team GP Games played Min Minutes played, minimum 400 SA Shots against SV Saves GA Goals against GAA Goals against average W Won L LostYaro DachniwskyMemphis 18 958 432 187 53 3.33 10 8Jamie SwannerCanton 24 1402 600 312 84 3.59 19 4Arnie MausserTampa Bay 35 2074 891 436 126 3.64 19 16Victor PetroniLouisville 26 1392 671 339 94 4.05 14 8Bill NaumovskiCanton 20 1012 504 222 76 4.10 12 7 League awards Most Valuable Player: Rudy Pikuzinski, Canton Coach of the Year: Terry Nicholl, Memphis Defender of the Year: Tim Tyma, Canton Goalkeeper of the Year: Jamie Swanner, Canton Rookie of the Year: Paul Zimmerman, Chicago All-AISA teams First Team Pos Position Second Team Jamie Swanner, CantonG Arnie Mausser, Tampa Bay Tim Tyma, CantonD Tomo Condric, Canton Gregg Willin, MemphisD Martin Rincon, Chicago Chris Hellenkamp, LouisvilleM Elvis Comrie, Chicago Zoran Savic, LouisvilleF Salvador Valencia, Chicago Rudy Pikuzinski, CantonF Carlos Salguero, Toledo References External links Major Indoor Soccer League II (RSSSF) 1987 in American Soccer Category:1986 in American soccer leagues Category:1987 in American soccer leagues 1986-87