1997 CISL PREVIEW
EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas Sidekicks
Record in 1996: 16-12
Home arena: Reunion Arena (capacity 16,652)
Head coach: Gordon Jago
Key players: Forward David Doyle, forward Tatu, defender Rusty Troy, defender Mike Powers
Changes for 1997: Tatu (45 goals, 44 assists) won his fourth scoring title and third MVP award, Doyle (47 goals, 25 assists) finished second in scoring, and Troy (58 blocks) and Powers (53 blocks) were among the league’s best defenders. The Sidekicks went 13-1 at home and finished two games out of first. They also got older: Powers is 39, Tatu 35, midfielder Kevin Smith 34 and Doyle will be 32 in August. As long as Tatu, who finished in the top five in nine offensive categories, and Doyle are healthy, they’ll be dangerous. A major pickup from the San Diego Sockers dispersal draft was goalkeeper Antonio Cortes (5.39 goals-against average).
Website: None
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Detroit Safari
Record in 1996: 13-15
Home arena: The Palace of Auburn Hills (capacity 17,960)
Head coach: Paul Child
Key players: Forward Andy Chapman, defender Greg Matlak, defender Jay White
Changes for 1997: Detroit changed its nickname from Neon to Safari. Detroit is coming off its first playoff appearance, forcing La Raza to a third game in the first round. Detroit broke up its 1-2 punch of Chapman (51 points) and Drago (42 points) by trading Drago to Sacramento for Michael Collins (35 points). Attacking defenders Matlak (41 points) and Ian Fairbrother (28 points, 42 blocks) helped make Detroit the fifth-highest scoring team. Jay White (59 blocks) and Chris Whyte (6-3, 185) are also in the back. The Safari picked up midfielder Carlos Farias (46 points) and forward Moises Garduno (36 points) in the San Diego dispersal draft.
Website: www.detroitsafari.com
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Houston Hotshots
Record in 1996: 18-10
Home arena: The Summit (capacity 14,848)
Head coach: Trevor Dawkins
Key players: Midfielder Ziad Allen, forward Nebo Bandovic, forward Paul Dougherty, midfielder Giampaulo Pedroso
Changes for 1997: The Hotshots tied with Monterrey for the Eastern Division title and along with Monterrey, scored first in a league-high 19 games--and went 14-5 when doing so. Houston was swept by Monterrey in the CISL finals in two games. As much as any team in the league, the Hotshots stood pat, which is understandable with their offensive capabilities, sparked last year by Dougherty (36 goals, 34 assists), Bandovic (31 goals, 23 assists), Pedroso (32 goals, 18 assists) and Allen (19 goals, 26 assists). Defender Damien Harley was third in the league with 58 blocks. Houston went 12-2 at home.
Website: www.houstonhotshots.com
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Indiana Twisters
Record in 1996: 10-18
Home arena: Market Square Arena (capacity 15,993)
Head coach: Jorge Espinoza
Key players: Forward Mariano Bollella, defender Terry Rowe, defender Rich Ryerson
Changes for 1997: The Twisters have one of the strongest work ethics in the league, and the addition of Carlos Zavala to help on defense will make them a difficult opponent. After beating Monterrey in their last game to become the league’s final team to reach at least 10 victories, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Indiana challenge the .500 mark this season. Bollella was second in assists (38) and fifth in points (66), and coupled with midfielder Alejandro Moreno (26 goals, 43 points), the Twisters have some scoring to go with their defense.
Website: www.indianatwisters.com
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Monterrey La Raza
Record in 1996: 18-10
Home arena: Monterrey Tech (capacity 3,500)
Head coach: Erich Geyer
Key players: Midfielder Marco Lopez, defender Genoni Martinez, goalkeeper Raul Salas, forward Zizinho
Changes for 1997: There isn’t much reason for La Raza to change this season. The two-time defending CISL champion returns its top 10 scorers from last year and must be considered the team to beat. A sign of hope for the rest of the league: Monterrey slipped at home and on the road last season, going 10-4 at home (13-1 in 1995) and 8-6 (10-4 in ‘95) away from tiny Monterrey Tech Arena. Lopez was third in assists (36) and sixth in points (59). On a team that applies defensive pressure better than any other, and plays with an uncommon intensity, Martinez complemented his 48 points with 32 blocks, third on the team to Alejandro Cardenas (44) and Sergio Gonzalez (35).
Website: None
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Washington Warthogs
Record in 1996: 13-15
Home arena: USAir Arena (capacity 18,130)
Head coach: Jim Gabarra
Key players: Forward Denison Cabral, forward Eric McClellan, defender Troy Snyder, forward Tarik Walker
Changes for 1997: The Warthogs won five of their first six games before fading. The 74 blocks by Snyder, the league’s leading defender, were 15 more than anyone else. He became the first Eastern Division player to be voted defender of the year. Although goalkeeper Brett Phillips is in Portland, Washington will make do with Brazilian Clovis Maciel or reserve David Tenney (6.6 goals-against average). Midfielder Goran Hunjak, a skilled playmaker who scored 100 points (47 goals, 53 assists) for the Warthogs in 1994, is back. McClellan, whose .270 shooting percentage was fifth-best in the league, scored a team-high 53 points and finished in the top 10 in goal-scoring (34). Walker had 43 points and four game-winning goals.
Website: None.
WESTERN DIVISION
Arizona Sandsharks
Record in 1996: 11-17
Home arena: America West Arena (capacity 15,505)
Head coach: Luis Dabo
Key players: Midfielder Don Gaillard, forward Rick Soderman, defender Jason Vanacour, defender Terry Woodberry.
Changes for 1997: The Sandsharks rejoined the league after a year’s hiatus, but the CISL lost Western Division champion San Diego, which may return in 1998. The Sandsharks, vying for their first playoff appearance, tried to bring back its nucleus from 1995 when it finished 11-17. Dabo, the first-year coach, has connections in Portugal and has brought along a handful of players who are quick and skillful and should gain confidence as the season goes on. Woodberry, who played at Dallas, was a key acquisition; he had 33 points and 21 blocks in only 15 games. Goalkeeper Scott Hileman, who did not play in the CISL last year, had a 7.23 goals-against average in 1994--which must improve if Arizona is to be successful.
Website: None
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Portland Pride
Record in 1996: 10-18
Home arena: Rose Garden Arena (capacity 18,500)
Head coach: Ian Fulton
Key players: Forward Jeff Betts, defender Ralph Black, forward Chris Scotti, goalkeeper Rob Warnell
Changes for 1997: Portland was eighth in scoring last season after averaging 7.8 goals in 1995. Scotti (35 goals, 17 assists), the Pride scoring leader, is coming off reconstructive knee surgery, which makes the recent addition of midfielder Franklin McIntosh (who has averaged 58.5 points per year) and Seattle’s leading scorer, forward Ben Erickson (22 goals, 12 assists in 1996), even more important. They also added Washington goalkeeper Brett Phillips (5.38 GAA); Portland was 9-12 with Warnell, but 1-6 without him. Fulton is in his first season after coaching the Splash last year to a 15-13 mark. The Pride hasn’t been in the playoffs since 1993, the last time it finished above .500.
Website: www.pride-soccer.com
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Sacramento Knights
Record in 1996: 14-14
Home arena: Arco Arena (capacity 10,632)
Head coach: Keith Weller
Key players: Defender Paul Hansen, goalkeeper Dan Madsen, forward Jon Parry, forward Mark Thomas
Changes for 1997: Parry (37 goals, 18 assists), the league’s seventh-leading scorer, might need even more for the Knights to overcome the physical and emotional loss of defender Danny Pena (now with the Galaxy). Iain Fraser, who played for the Knights two years ago (46 blocks, 29 points) will try to fill the void and help Madsen (5.32 goals-against average), the second-leading goalkeeper. Forward Mark Thomas (13 goals, 13 assists in 16 games) is back at full strength. Drago (42 points) replaces midfielder Michael Collins (35) after a trade with Detroit. Sacramento played for the CISL title in 1995; its decline can be traced to its penalty-killing unit, which dropped from fifth (62.2%) to ninth (51.5%) in 1996, and its power play effectiveness, which fell from second (57.6%) to 10th (29.3).
Website: None
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Seattle SeaDogs
Record in 1996: 10-18
Home arena: Key Arena (capacity 14,545)
Head coach: Fernando Clavijo
Key players: Goalkeeper Juan de la O, forward Ben Erickson, forward John Olu Molomo, defender John Purtteman
Changes for 1997: Along with the Pride, the SeaDogs have gone to great lengths to improve their team. Clavijo brought in several players from the Seattle Sounders (which plays outdoors) who had played previously with the Tacoma Stars of the defunct Major Indoor Soccer League. It looks good on paper, as defender Bill Crook and midfielder Dick McCormick appear to have added experience and strength; only time will tell if their years away from the indoor game hurt them. Already the best defensive team in the league--de la O’s goals-against average was 4.92--the offense should be more powerful with the acquisition of forward Jean Harbor, who scored 58 points in 1995, and midfielder Jason Dunn.
Website: None