American soccer writing, history & data.
The Southwest Indoor Soccer League added three teams prior to the 1988-89 season: Houston Express; San Antonio Heat; and Wichita Tornado. In addition, the Arlington Arrows moved to Addison, Texas and become the Addison Arrows.
By this time, the SISL was affiliated with the U.S. Soccer Federation as a regional indoor league for Region III. During the indoor season, the SISL also acquired affiliation with the USSF as a Division III regional amateur/semi-pro outdoor league for its inaugural Southwest Outdoor Soccer League 1989 season.
With the additional three teams, the league split into three divisions (North, South and West) of three teams each and increased to a 24-game schedule. The league also added best-of-three games quarterfinals to the playoffs. The Austin Sockadillos won the South Division and, with the most points at the end of the regular season, received a bye into the semifinals. The six next teams took part in the quarterfinals with only Wichita and the Amarillo Challengers missing out on the playoffs. The latter team was by far the worst in the league and, at one point, lost a game 25-0 to the Albuquerque Gunners.
The top two teams from the regular season, Austin and West Division-winning Lubbock Lazers, took part in the best-of-five game league finals. After losing the first two matches, Austin won the next two forcing a final mini-game for the title. Lubbock won 2-1 to take the season championship.
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