December 23 (1983)

In his first game in six weeks after suffering a kidney injury, goalkeeper Slobo Ilijevski is in indoor soccer hall-of-fame form in the Steamers’ 4-1 win over the New York Arrows before 12,130 at the Arena. The only goal against him comes on a shot by Val Tuksa almost 40 minutes into the game. Ilijevski, who confesses he still is not at 100 percent, nevertheless makes acrobatic saves and roams out of the net to quash Arrows’ scoring opportunities. A big factor in the outcome is the Steamers’ overall defense, which holds the Arrows to 21 shots. Steamers’ defenders Tony Bellinger, Sam Bick and Carl Rose also join the attack. Bellinger assists on the Steamers’ third goal. Bick scores in the first period. Rose tallies the game’s final goal after collecting a long kick from Ilijevski just outside the Arrows’ defensive third. Future U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer Ricky Davis has two goals and an assist for the Steamers. Ilijevski, a future Indoor Soccer Hall of Famer, will go on to lead the Major Indoor Soccer League with a goals-against average of 3.67 for the 1983-84 season. The Steamers will win the Western Division with a 26-22 record and advance through the quarterfinal and semifinal playoff series to lose, 4-1, in the best-of-seven finals to the Baltimore Blast.