Outdoor Minor Leagues
By the time Dougherty moved to MLS, he was already a veteran of several outdoor U.S. teams. While he made his name with the indoor game, he also was a consistent performer outdoors. In July 1988, while in San Diego with the Sockers, Dougherty signed with the San Diego Nomads as the team prepared for the Western Soccer Alliance playoffs. He played only one play off games as the San Jose Earthquakes eliminated the Nomads in penalty kicks. Then in 1990, he spent the outdoor season with the Orlando Lions in the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) which had been formed that year by the merger of the WSA and east coast American Soccer League. On June 12, 1991, he signed with the Miami Freedom of the APSL. On July 1, 1991, the Freedom released Dougherty and seven other players in a bid to maintain financial solvency. He signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers the next day. While he sat out the 1992 APSL season, instead spending time with two of his indoor clubs, he returned to the APSL in 1993, this time on loan from the Blizzard to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. That season was one of his best as he bagged eight goals in twenty-two games and a spot on the APSL All Star team. Once again, he took time off from the outdoor game to devote himself to indoor soccer. However, in 1995 he signed with the Montreal Impact of A-League, successor to the APSL. He once again earned All Star honors.
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