Pittsburgh Spirit
Full name | Pittsburgh Spirit | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Spirit | ||
Founded | 1978 | ||
Dissolved | 1986 | ||
Ground | Major Indoor Soccer League | ||
|
Pittsburgh Spirit was an indoor
1981–82
The Pittsburgh Spirit was reinstated into the MISL in 1981 after suspending operations the previous season.
The Spirit finished the regular season with a 31–13 record (including a franchise best .705 winning percentage), securing second place in the Eastern Division and a playoff berth. The team faced the third-place Baltimore Blast in the Division Semifinals. The Spirit won the first game of the playoffs 3–1, but would go on to lose the second contest 6–5 in overtime and the series' third and final game 4–2, eliminating the Spirit from further postseason play.[2]
1982–83
The Spirit were unable to repeat its previous season's success and played .500 soccer for the 1982–83 season (24–24). Despite its mediocre regular season record, the team very narrowly missed the playoffs. Stan Terlecki once again led the Spirit in goals (65) and points (105), and forward Paul Child finished in the top 25 in points (68). Krys Sobieski played at a sub-.500 goalkeeping level, going 19–20 and watched his GAA fall to 4.88.[3]
1983–84
The Spirit enjoyed its winningest regular season ever in 1983–84, going 32–16 despite losing two-time leading scorer Terlecki to the
1984–85
Two-time former leading scorer Stan Terlecki returned to the team, but the Spirit finished in sixth place ten games under .500, going 19–29. Terlecki led the team with 39 goals and 66 points, while goalkeeper Peter Mowlik finished the season 11–13 with a 4.71 GAA.[5]
1985–86
The 1985–1986 season would be the final season for the Pittsburgh Spirit in the MISL. Although the team finished only four games out of first place in the Eastern Division, it also finished in last place with a record of 23–25. Goaltender David Brcic was named to the All-MISL team. After the season's completion, the Pittsburgh Spirit franchise folded.[6]
Return
There was an attempt to revive the Spirit for the final Major Soccer League season, but it did not come to be. An ownership group known as Pittsburgh Soccer Inc. was approved to operate the Major Soccer League expansion team for three years.[7]
Staff
- General Manager – Chris Wright
Former players
- David Brcic (1985–86) 43 Apps 0 Goals
- Steve Buttle (1979–80) 28 Apps 35 Goals
- Micky Cave (1981–84)
- Clive Charles (1982)
- Paul Child (1981–86) 133 Apps 140 Goals
- Alfie Conn(1979–80)
- John Dolinsky (1978–79) 22 Apps 16 Goals
- Helmut Dudek (1985–86)
- Drago Dumbovic (1983–84) 37 Apps 32 Goals
- David Egan
- Charlie Falzon (1985–86)
- Graham Fyfe(1979–80) 31 Apps 37 Goals
- Charley Greene (1984–86)
- Fred Grgurev (1985–86)
- David Hoggan (1984–86)
- Godfrey Ingram (1985–86)
- Tommy Jenkins
- Zdzisław Kapka (1983–86) 45 Apps 30 Goals
- Erhardt Kapp (1984–86)
- Nicky Klinarski (1985–86)
- Marcio Leite (1984–86)
- Mark Liveric (1985–86)
- Joseph Luxbacher (1978–80) scored first goal in franchise history
- Dave MacKenzie (1984–85)
- Pat McCluskey (1982–83)
- David McNiven(1984–85)
- Kevin Maher(1983–86)
- Peter Mannos (1978–79) 16 Apps 0 Goals
- Alan Mayer (1979–80) 17 Apps 0 Goals
- Shep Messing (1984–85)
- Joe Mihaljevic (1982–86)
- Piotr Mowlik (1984–86) 27 Apps 0 Goals
- Bill Nichol (1981–82) 44 Apps 26 Goals
- Sid Nolan(1978–79) 23 Apps 21 Goals
- John O'Hara (1981-86)
- Grzegorz Ostalczyk (1981–85)
- Joe Papaleo (1983–84) 25 Apps 0 Goals
- Art Rex (1979–80)
- Nathan Sacks (1982)
- Dave Sarachan (1978–79) 23 Apps 23 Goals
- Krzysztof Sobieski(1981–83) 70 Apps 0 Goals
- Janusz Sybis (1983–86) 42 Apps 35 Goals
- Stanisław Terlecki "Stan the Man" (1981–83) 88 Apps 139 Goals (1984–85) 39 Apps 39 Goals
- George Tiger (1984–85) 93 Apps 19 Goals
- Adam Topolski (1984–86)
- Keith Tozer (1981–84) 85 Apps 8 Goals
- Val Tuska(1985–86)
- Bob Vosmaer(1984–85)
- Roger Wynter (1984–85)
Former coaches
- Bruno Schwarz (1978–79)
- Alex Pringle (1979)
- Len Bilous (1979–80)
- John Kowalski (1981–85)
- Don Popovic(1985–1986)
Individual Honours
MISL MVP
- 1981–1982 – Stan Terlecki(jointly held)
MISL All-Star Team
- 1981–1982 – Stan Terlecki
- 1985–1986 – David Brcic
MISL Rookie of the Year
- 1983–1984 – Kevin Maher
Coach of the Year
- 1979–80 – Len Bilous (jointly held)
References
- ^ "The Vindicator - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ Dave Litterer/Steve Holroyd. "The 1981–82 MISL season". The US Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Dave Litterer/Steve Holroyd. "The 1982–83 MISL season". The US Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Dave Litterer/Steve Holroyd. "The 1983–84 MISL season". The US Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Dave Litterer/Steve Holroyd. "The 1984–85 MISL season". The US Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Dave Litterer/Steve Holroyd. "The 1985–86 MISL season". The US Soccer History Archives. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2011-03-22.
- ^ Bill Free (1991-04-30). "Pittsburgh Returns To Indoor League". baltimoresun.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-23. Retrieved 2011-03-22.