January 6 (1984)

Future Indoor Soccer Hall of Famer Slobo Ilijevksi is in top form as the St. Louis Steamers cool off the MISL’s highest-scoring team, the Cleveland Force, 5-2 before 14,173 fans at Richfield Coliseum. Ilijevski, whose availability had been limited earlier in the season because of injuries, makes 28 saves and holds the Force scoreless for more than 50 minutes after Kai Haaskivi’s power-play goal at 4:04 of the first quarter. Ilijevski’s value to the Steamers is evident by their 7-2 record with him in goal and 2-6 record without him so far in the 1983-84 season. An important factor in Ilijevksi’s success during his career with the Steamers from 1980-88 is due to the performance of the Steamers’ core group of defenders: Canadian Olympian Carl Rose (a Steamer from 1979-86) and U.S. National Teamers Tony Bellinger (1979-87), Sam Bick (1979-87), Greg Makowski (1979-82 and 1985-86) and Steve Pecher (1979-84 and 1985-87). Ilijevski will post his fourth career shutout, a league record at the time, on March 2. He will lead the MISL with a 3.67 goals-against average, the only goalkeeper in the league that season with a goals-against average under 4. The Steamers will reach the MISL finals and lose the best-of-seven series four games to one against the Baltimore Blast.