1985–86 American Indoor Soccer Association season

Last updated
American Indoor Soccer Association
Season1985–86
Champions Canton Invaders
2nd title
Matches played120
Goals scored1,255 (10.46 per match)
Top goalscorer Kia Zolgharnain (52)
1986–87 →

The 1985–86 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the second season for the league. The only change in teams from the inaugural season was that Chicago changed its name from the Vultures to the Shoccers. Zoran Savic of Louisville won the scoring title, but Canton’s Kia Zolgharnain netted the most goals with 52. League assists leader, Don Tobin, also of Canton was voted MVP, while his coach Trevor Dawkins took home Coach of the Year honors.

Contents

Canton and Louisville finished top of the table, well ahead the rest of the league. Both swept their semifinal opponents, to again face each other in the finals. In the championship round, the Thunder proved to be no match for the Invaders and were themselves swept in three games. [1]

League Standings

PosTeamPldWLGFGAGDPCTGB
1 Canton Invaders 40337243149+94.825—
2 Louisville Thunder 40319251185+66.7752
3 Kalamazoo Kangaroos 401723176179−3.42516
4 Chicago Shoccers 401525196225−29.37518
5 Columbus Capitals 401327200270−70.32520
6 Milwaukee Wave 401129189247−58.27522
Source: RSSSF

All-Star Game

On February 5 the defending champion, Canton Invaders, hosted the first ever AISA All-Star Game at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. The Invaders faced a team of all-stars from the rest of the league’s teams. This gave the hosts a distinct advantage, because unlike their opponent, they had been playing together all season. This was never more evident than in the fact that Canton scored the final seven goals of the match to pull away, 9–4. Canton forward Ian Anderson (1 goal, 2 assists) was named the game’s MVP. [2] Additionally the league announced that Toledo would join the league next season along with three to five others teams. [3] [4]

All-Star selections

StartersPosReserves
Victor Petroni, Kalamazoo G Rick Schweizer, Louisville
Hayden Knight, Chicago
Tom Alioto, Louisville		 D Keith Tozer, Louisville
Dave Huson, Chicago
Paul Kato, Kalamazoo
Rubén Astigarraga, Columbus M Peter Knezic, Milwaukee
Lesh Shkreli, Columbus
Neil Ridgeway, Kalamazoo
Zoran Savic, Louisville
Ross Ongaro, Milwaukee		 F Gary Amlong, Louisville
Gerald Celestin, Columbus
Janusz Kieca, Chicago

Canton Invaders’ All-Stars

The following Canton players were also selected by their peers as all-stars, but because of the match format, played for the host team. [6]

PosPlayer
G Bill Naumovski, Canton
D Oscar Pisano, Canton
D Walt Schlothauer, Canton
M Don Tobin, Canton
F Kia Zolgharnain, Canton
FArt Kramer, Canton

Match report

Canton Invaders 9–4AISA All-Stars
  • Kia Soccerball shade.svg7:52, 54:00, 56:20
  • Pikuzinski Soccerball shade.svg12:03
  • Anderson Soccerball shade.svg31:55
  • Kramer Soccerball shade.svg34:24 (PP)
  • Killingsworth Soccerball shade.svg41:25
  • Frick Soccerball shade.svg41:54, 59:47
  • 6th Foul Blue card.svgBlue card.svgBlue card.svg
  • Naumovski Blue card.svg
 [7]
Canton Memorial Civic Center , Canton, Ohio
Attendance: 2,720

Playoffs

Semifinals Finals
              
1 Canton Invaders 14 5 3 – –
4 Chicago Shoccers 7 3 2 – –
1 Canton Invaders 6 7 10 – –
2 Louisville Thunder 3 3 5 – –
2 Louisville Thunder 2 4 4 – –
3 Kalamazoo Kangaroos 1 3 3 – –

League Leaders

Scoring

PlayerTeamGPGAPts
Zoran Savic Canton40513081
Ross Ongaro Milwaukee40403373
Kia Zolgharnain Canton37521567
Peter Knezic Milwaukee38313162
Chris Hellenkamp Louisville38372461
Ted PowersKalamazoo40421759
Lesh Shkreli Columbus40293059
Don Tobin Canton30193958
Art KramerCanton35332457
Mike Fall Louisville38183856

Goalkeeping

PlayerTeamGPMinSASVGAGAAWL
Jamie Swanner Canton251485785407883.55203
Bill NaumovskiCanton16971418217593.64133
A. J. LachoweckiLouisville16881462230573.88123
Victor Petroni Kalamazoo33197910756061354.09148
Jose GarciaChicago221085620345864.75812

League Awards

All-AISA Teams

First TeamPosSecond Team
Victor Petroni, Kalamazoo G Jamie Swanner, Canton
Tim Tyma, Canton D Martin Rincon, Chicago
Oscar Pisano, CantonDSaeed Bakhtiari, Louisville
Don Tobin, Canton M Peter Knezic, Milwaukee
Zoran Savic, Louisville F Chris Hellenkamp, Louisville
Kia Zolgharnain, CantonF Ross Ongaro, Milwaukee

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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.

The 1984–85 American Indoor Soccer Association season was the inaugural season of the AISA. The league began with six teams, all based in the Midwest. Canton won the regular season by five games. Lesh Shkreli of Columbus ran away with the scoring title, and also won the MVP vote. Canton coach Klaas de Boer took home Coach of the Year honors. Louisville upset Columbus with a semifinals-sweep, and faced Canton in the finals. In the championship round, the Invaders handled the Thunder in four games.

References

  1. ↑ Younkin, Lou (April 26, 1986). "Invaders' rally ends Thunder's hopes, 10-5". The Courier-Journal. p. C1. Retrieved June 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ Pluto, Terry (February 6, 1986). "Invaders give rest of league a hard time". Akron Beacon Journal. p. B1. Retrieved 18 June 2017– via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Thunder players to lead AISA All-Stars". The Courier Journal. February 5, 1986. p. D2. Retrieved 18 June 2017– via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Canton beat All-Stars; AISA expands". The Courier Journal. February 6, 1986. p. C4. Retrieved 18 June 2017– via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "1985-86 AISA All-Star team". Chicago Tribune. February 5, 1986. p. D6. Retrieved 18 June 2017– via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "AISA to announce expansion club". Akron Beacon Journal. February 5, 1986. p. C1. Retrieved 18 June 2017– via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "CANTON 9, AISA ALL-STARS 4". Milwaukee Sentinel . 6 February 1986. Retrieved 31 January 2022– via NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current.
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