1996–97 National Professional Soccer League season

League standings

GP W L PCT GB GF GA AMERICAN CONFERENCE East Division Harrisburg Heat 40 22 18 .550 ---- 523 457 Baltimore Spirit 40 20 20 .500 2.0 506 494 Philadelphia Kixx 40 17 23 .425 5.0 451 593 Tampa Bay Terror 40 15 25 .375 7.0 503 541 Central Division Cleveland Crunch 40 29 11 .725 ---- 772 550 Cincinnati Silverbacks 40 21 19 .525 8.0 570 517 Columbus Invaders 40 5 35 .125 24.0 479 895 NATIONAL CONFERENCE North Division Buffalo Blizzard 40 21 19 .525 ---- 545 469 Edmonton Drillers 40 21 19 .525 ---- 538 475 Detroit Rockers 40 20 20 .500 1.0 563 532 Toronto Shooting Stars 40 6 34 .150 15.0 416 685 Midwest Division St. Louis Ambush 40 27 13 .675 ---- 637 545 Milwaukee Wave 40 26 14 .650 1.0 525 472 Kansas City Attack 40 26 14 .650 1.0 605 500 Wichita Wings 40 24 16 .600 3.0 589 497 Conf. Quarterfinals: Cincinnati defeated Tampa Bay 13-11, 15-17(OT), 16-11 Baltimore defeated Philadelphia, 15-8, 18-8 Edmonton defeated Milwaukee, 20-6, 10-9 Kansas City defeated Wichita, 13-11, 13-14, 22-5. Conf. Semi-finals: Cleveland defeated Baltimore, 14-19, 21-9, 14-13. Harrisburg defeated Cincinnati, 11-9 (OT), 13-12. St. Louis defeated Edmonton, 19-18, 9-19, 16-11. Kansas City defeated Buffalo 18-12, 13-11. Conf. Finals: Cleveland defeated Harrisburg, 11-8, 13-19, 17-14, 14-12 Kansas City defeated St. Louis, 15-11, 22-16, 13-11. FINALS: Kansas City defeated Cleveland 18-14, 25-19, 14-8, 15-12