Rudy Pikuzinski
Encyclopedia
Rudy Pikuzinski is a former U.S. soccer forward
who spent nearly his entire career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
, grew up in Buffalo, New York
where they learned to play from their father. Pikuzinski attended Bishop Turner High School and The Park School
, playing soccer at both. Pikuzinski set the single season scoring record at The Park School. He also played with the White Eagles of the Western New York Premier Soccer League, winning four championships.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) drafted Pikuzinski. He played one season with them, but when the Stallions folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season, Pikuzinski moved to the Buffalo Storm
of the outdoor United Soccer League
. The Storm folded in 1984 and Pikuzinski signed with the expansion Canton Invaders
of the newly established American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). Pikuzinski took a back seat to team leading scorer Kia Zolgharnain
his first two seasons with the Invaders as the team took two consecutive AISA championships. In his third season with the Invaders, Pikuzinski became the league’s leading scorer. He was named a first team All Star and league MVP. That season, the Invaders lost in the finals, but won the next three championships as Pikuzinski earned his second and third MVP awards. In 1991, Pikuzinski moved to the Cleveland Crunch
of MISL. The Crunch went to the semifinals before falling to the Dallas Sidekicks
. In 1992 after the MISL folded, Pikuzinski returned to Buffalo when he signed with the expansion Buffalo Blizzard
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). Pikuzinski remained with the Blizzard through the 1999-2000 season before he retired from playing professionally. During his last season of play, he also served as an assistant coach with the Blizzard.
Pikuzinski was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He is the resident instructor at Sahlen’s Sports Park, an indoor soccer complex in Elma, New York.
AISA/NPSL All Time Statistical Leaders
Forward for All Time AISA/NPSL Team
First Team All Star
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who spent nearly his entire career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time American Indoor Soccer Association MVP and served as an assistant coach his last year as a player.
Youth
Pikuzinski, and his brother RandyRandy Pikuzinski
Randy Pikuzinski is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and United Soccer League....
, grew up in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
where they learned to play from their father. Pikuzinski attended Bishop Turner High School and The Park School
The Park School of Buffalo
The Park School of Buffalo is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Amherst, New York . Founded in 1912, the institution features lower, middle, and upper schools, serving roughly 260 students from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12...
, playing soccer at both. Pikuzinski set the single season scoring record at The Park School. He also played with the White Eagles of the Western New York Premier Soccer League, winning four championships.
Professional
In 1983, the Buffalo StallionsBuffalo Stallions
The Buffalo Stallions were a soccer team based out of Buffalo, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 to 1984. Their home arena was Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.-History:...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL) drafted Pikuzinski. He played one season with them, but when the Stallions folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season, Pikuzinski moved to the Buffalo Storm
Buffalo Storm
Buffalo Storm were an American professional soccer team. They played for one season in the USL-1984 Roster: Dennis Mepham Randy Pikuzinski Rudy Pikuzinski Carlos Salguero Däniel Johansson...
of the outdoor United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. The Storm folded in 1984 and Pikuzinski signed with the expansion Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the newly established American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). Pikuzinski took a back seat to team leading scorer Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain was an Iranian-U.S. soccer forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986-1987 season. He currently coaches youth soccer in Cleveland...
his first two seasons with the Invaders as the team took two consecutive AISA championships. In his third season with the Invaders, Pikuzinski became the league’s leading scorer. He was named a first team All Star and league MVP. That season, the Invaders lost in the finals, but won the next three championships as Pikuzinski earned his second and third MVP awards. In 1991, Pikuzinski moved to the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of MISL. The Crunch went to the semifinals before falling to the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
. In 1992 after the MISL folded, Pikuzinski returned to Buffalo when he signed with the expansion Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). Pikuzinski remained with the Blizzard through the 1999-2000 season before he retired from playing professionally. During his last season of play, he also served as an assistant coach with the Blizzard.
Pikuzinski was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He is the resident instructor at Sahlen’s Sports Park, an indoor soccer complex in Elma, New York.
Honors
- MVP: 1987, 1988, 1989
- Leading scorer: 1987, 1988
AISA/NPSL All Time Statistical Leaders
- 6th in Points- 1224
- 5th in Goals- 511
- 8th in Assists- 340
Forward for All Time AISA/NPSL Team
First Team All Star
- 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993