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.
League standings
Northern Division
Southern Division
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. 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 Coach: Terry Nicholl, Memphis Starters 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 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
Playoffs
League leaders
Scoring Player Team Rudy 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 Yaro 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 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