1996–97 National Professional Soccer League season

National Professional Soccer League

Season	1996–97
Champions	Kansas City Attack (2nd title)
Matches played	300
Highest attendance	17,617 Wichita at Milwaukee (February 28)
Average attendance	5,650
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

Statistics of National Professional Soccer League in season 1996–97.

League standings

  American Conference   GP   W   L    PCT   GB     GF    GA  Home  Road
    East Division
Harrisburg Heat         40  22  18   .550  ----   523   457  13-7  9-11
Baltimore Spirit        40  20  20   .500   2.0   506   494  12-8  8-12
Philadelphia Kixx       40  17  23   .425   5.0   451   593  11-9  6-14
Tampa Bay Terror        40  15  25   .375   7.0   503   541  10-10 5-15

    Central Division
Cleveland Crunch        40  29  11   .725  ----   772   550  18-2  11-9
Cincinnati Silverbacks  40  21  19   .525   8.0   570   517  12-8  9-11
Columbus Invaders       40   5  35   .125  24.0   479   895  4-16  1-19

    NATIONAL CONFERENCE
    North Division
Buffalo Blizzard        40  21  19   .525  ----   545   469  13-7  8-12
Edmonton Drillers       40  21  19   .525  ----   538   475  15-5  6-14
Detroit Rockers         40  20  20   .500   1.0   563   532  14-6  6-14
Toronto Shooting Stars  40   6  34   .150  15.0   416   685  6-14  0-20

    Midwest Division
St. Louis Ambush        40  27  13   .675  ----   637   545  17-3 10-10
Milwaukee Wave          40  26  14   .650   1.0   525   472  14-6  12-8
Kansas City Attack      40  26  14   .650   1.0   605   500  18-2  8-12
Wichita Wings           40  24  16   .600   3.0   589   497  15-5  9-11

Conf. Quarterfinals: Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 13-11, 15-17(OT), 16-11
                    Baltimore defeated Philadelphia, 15-8, 18-8
                    Edmonton defeated Milwaukee, 20-6, 10-9
                    Kansas City defeated Wichita, 13-11, 13-14, 22-5.
Conf. Semi-finals:   Cleveland defeated Baltimore, 14-19, 21-9, 14-13.
                    Harrisburg defeated Cincinnati, 11-9 (OT), 13-12.
                    St. Louis defeated Edmonton, 19-18, 9-19, 16-11.
                    Kansas City defeated Buffalo 18-12, 13-11.
Conf. Finals:        Cleveland defeated Harrisburg, 11-8, 13-19, 17-14, 14-12
                    Kansas City defeated St. Louis, 15-11, 22-16, 13-11.
FINALS:              Kansas City defeated Cleveland 18-14, 25-19, 14-8, 15-12

Scoring leaders

GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

Player	Team	GP	G	A	Pts
Hector Marinaro	Cleveland Crunch	36	104	65	265
Zoran Karic	Cleveland Crunch	34	81	81	242
Dennis Brose	Detroit Rockers	39	102	51	236
Michael King	Milwaukee Wave	38	72	44	185
Joe Reiniger	St Louis Ambush	39	62	39	174
Mark Moser	St Louis Ambush	37	82	24	165
Franklin McIntosh	Cincinnati Silverbacks	36	48	65	161
Goran Hunjak	Kansas City Attack	39	61	42	151
Bojan Vuckovic	Baltimore Spirit	40	61	33	150
Nikola Vignjevic	Cleveland Crunch	40	58	35	149

League Awards

Most Valuable Player: Hector Marinaro, Cleveland

Defender of the Year: Daryl Doran, St Louis

Rookie of the Year: Jason Dunn, Wichita

Goalkeeper of the Year: Victor Nogueira, Milwaukee

Coach of the Year: Ross Ongaro, Edmonton

Finals MVP: Warren Westcoat, Kansas City

All-NPSL Teams

First Team	Position	Second Team	Third Team
Victor Nogueira, Milwaukee	G	Carlos Pena, Cincinnati	Scott Hileman, Edmonton
Daryl Doran, St Louis	D	Randy Prescott, Detroit	Genoni Martinez, Wichita
Wes Wade, Kansas City	D	Ricky Mobley, Milwaukee	Kim Roentved, Wichita
Zoran Karic, Cleveland	M	Joe Reiniger, St Louis	Franklin McIntosh, Cincinnati
Hector Marinaro, Cleveland	F	Michael King, Milwaukee	Bojan Vuckovic, Baltimore
Dennis Brose, Detroit	F	Mark Moser, St Louis	Goran Hunjak, Kansas City

All-NPSL Rookie Teams

First Team	Position	Second Team
Pete Pappas, Philadelphia	G	Jim McCombs, Baltimore
Drew Callahan, Columbus	D	Rene Rivas, Buffalo
John Ball, Cleveland	D	Shayne Campbell, Edmonton
Adolfo Mella, Toronto	M	Michael Stephenson, Harrisburg
Jason Dunn, Wichita	F	Sasa Zoric, Baltimore
Carmen D'Onofrio, Edmonton	F	Martin Dugas, Edmonton Emeka Moneme, Milwaukee

References

• Major Indoor Soccer League II (RSSSF)