The shootout, part of the MISL since its inception, was dropped in favor of multiple overtime periods to decide games, if necessary.
San Diego ran away with the West again, despite selling reigning league MVP Steve Zungul to the Tacoma Stars for $200,000 halfway through the regular season.
[3] Tacoma would go 11-8 with Zungul, who won the league scoring title for the sixth time in the MISL's eight years.
The playoff positions were only confirmed when the Baltimore Blast defeated the Pittsburgh Spirit in the season finale.
San Diego's Brian Quinn scored two goals and an assist on his way to playoff MVP honors.
[6] After the season, the Spirit folded,[7] and the league made plans to return to New York with an expansion franchise.