2011–12 Tacoma Stars season explained

Club:Tacoma Stars
Season:2011–12 PASL
Chrtitle:Owner
Chairman:Marian Bowers
Mgrtitle:Head Coach
Manager:Leighton O'Brien
Stdtitle:Arena
Stadium:Starfire Sports Complex
Tukwila, Washington
League:Professional Arena Soccer League
League Result:5th in Western Division
League Topscorer:Ian Weinberg
(19 goals, 6 assists)
Highest Attendance:147
(December 11, 2011)
vs Turlock Express
Average Attendance:242 (8 regular season home games)
Prevseason:2010–11
Nextseason:2012–13

The 2011–12 Tacoma Stars season was the second season of the Tacoma Stars professional indoor soccer club as a franchise in the Professional Arena Soccer League. Head coach Leighton O'Brien led the team to a 3–13 regular season record, leaving them 5th in the Western Division and out of the post-season.

The Stars participated in the 2011–12 U.S. Open Cup for Arena Soccer. They were granted a bye through the Round of 16 then fell to the San Diego Sockers 13–6 in the Quarterfinals.

History

The Stars played this season's home games at Starfire Sports Complex in the Seattle suburb of Tukwila, Washington. General admission tickets were free but seating in this facility was limited. This was the team's only season in Tukwila after leaving their longtime home at the Tacoma Soccer Center and waiting for the purpose-built Pacific Sports Center to be completed.

This team was named after the Tacoma Stars that played in the Tacoma Dome from 1983-1992 as a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. An earlier version of this current franchise was incorporated in 2003 as a member of the Premier Arena Soccer League before moving up to the pro league in 2010.

Off-field moves

Early versions of the Stars' schedule for this season showed matches against the California Cougars and the Phoenix Monsoon. The Cougars folded shortly before the season began and were replaced by a new franchise, the Turlock Express. The Monsoon franchise was revoked by the league in late December 2011 and replaced in January 2012 by another new franchise, the Arizona Storm, who inherited their roster and record.

Roster moves

The Stars held open tryouts on September 29, 2011, at the Starfire Sports Complex. A second open tryout was held on October 6, 2011. In early October 2011, the Stars announced a preliminary roster for the season based on these tryouts that included several players from the 2010–11 team as well as veterans of the Kitsap Pumas, Seattle Sounders, and various area Premier Arena Soccer League teams.

Later in October 2011, the team announced the signing of players Leighton O'Brien and Kevin Sakuda, both veterans of the Seattle Sounders and several indoor soccer teams. O'Brien would also serve as the team's head coach this season.

In late October, the team announced the signings of Seattle Sounders veteran Viet Nguyen and English player Adam Nowland. On November 1, 2011, the Stars announced the re-signing of re-signings of defenders Steve Mohn, Vitalie Bulala, and Jeff Bader plus midfielder Mark Lee. On November 3, the team announced the re-signing of re-signings of defender Kris Bowers plus midfielders Ian Weinberg and Micah Wenzel. The same day, the team signed defender Kellen Wantulok, forward Eli Gordley, and midfielder Kyle Johnson, all formerly of the Kitsap Pumas.

Awards and honors

Citing his 5 goals and 4 assists in leading the Stars through back-to-back victories over the team from Arizona the previous weekend, the Professional Arena Soccer League named Adam Nowland as its Player of the Week on December 7, 2011.

Schedule

Regular season

GameDayDateKickoffOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
Final ScoreTeam Record
1FridayNovember 47:35pmat Turlock ExpressL 5–80–1Turlock Soccer Complex308
2 SaturdayNovember 57:35pmat Turlock ExpressL 3–70–2Turlock Soccer Complex280
3SaturdayDecember 37:00pmPhoenix MonsoonW 9–51–2Starfire Sports Complex270
4SundayDecember 43:00pmPhoenix MonsoonW 13–52–2Starfire Sports Complex200
5SaturdayDecember 108:00pmTurlock ExpressW 10–63–2Starfire Sports Complex204
6SundayDecember 113:00pmTurlock ExpressL 6–103–3Starfire Sports Complex147
7FridayDecember 167:05pmat Revolución TijuanaL 10–133–4Furati Arena150
8SaturdayDecember 177:05pmat San Diego SockersL 3–83–5Chevrolet Del Mar Arena2,470
9SaturdayJanuary 147:00pmSan Diego SockersL 6–133–6Starfire Sports Complex211
10SundayJanuary 153:00pmSan Diego SockersL 6–103–7Starfire Sports Complex159
11SaturdayFebruary 117:00pmAnaheim BoltsL 10–123–8Starfire Sports Complex504
12SundayFebruary 123:00pmAnaheim BoltsL 11–123–9Starfire Sports Complex243
13FridayFebruary 247:05pmat Revolución TijuanaL 6–133–10Furati Arena200
14SaturdayFebruary 257:05pmat San Diego SockersL 4–93–11Chevrolet Del Mar Arena2,123
15SundayFebruary 26 §1:00pmat Anaheim BoltsL 6–93–12Anaheim Convention Center249
16SundayFebruary 266:00pmat Anaheim BoltsL 9–103–13Anaheim Convention Center367
† Game also counted for US Open Cup, as listed in chart below.§ Game rescheduled from Sunday, December 18, 2011, due to "arena equipment issues".

2011–12 US Open Cup for Arena Soccer

GameDateKickoffOpponentResultsLocationAttendance
Final ScoreRecord
Round of 16BYE
Quarter-finalJanuary 147:00pmSan Diego SockersL 6–130–1Starfire Sports Complex211

External links