November 14 (1986)

It was supposed to be a return to the best of times, but the St. Louis Steamers’ Major Indoor Soccer League opener is the worst in the club’s history as it loses, 6-1, to the Kansas City Comets at The Arena. Expectations for the season are high. Tony Glavin, the “Wee Man” who helped drive the Steamers to their glory days of reaching consecutive league finals in 1981 and 1982, is back in the lineup after knee injuries had limited his playing time in recent seasons. A half-dozen new players had been added. A crowd of 13,636, similar in size the big crowds of earlier years, is on hand. They see Don Ebert, another stellar player from the Steamers’ banner seasons, tie the game in the second period. But it’s all Comets afterward, at least on the scoreboard. The Steamers outshoot Kansas City, 28-23, but Comets goalkeeper Alan Mayer turns back every shot on goal after Ebert scores. Mayer runs his career record against the Steamers to 13-2. The loss foreshadows the rest of the season for the Steamers, who will finish 19-33 and miss the playoffs. Glavin will replace future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Pat McBride as head coach 27 games into the season. The Comets will post a 28-24 record under St. Louis native and head coach Rick Benben. The Comets will lose to the San Diego Sockers, three games to two, in the first round of the playoffs.