Tacoma Stars Explained

Clubname:Tacoma Stars
Upright:1.0
Stadium:accesso ShoWare Center,
Kent, Washington
Bellarmine Preparatory School,
Tacoma, Washington
Capacity:6,500
Chairman:Lane Smith
Coach:Adam Becker
League:Major Arena Soccer League
USL League Two
Season:2022–23
Position:4th, Western Division
Playoffs: Play-in Round
Website:http://www.tacomastars.com
American:true
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The Tacoma Stars are an American soccer organization that fields men's teams in both the Major Arena Soccer League, an indoor soccer league, and USL League Two, a minor outdoor league. Founded in 2003, the indoor team plays at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. First playing in 2024, the outdoor men's Stars team and outdoor women's team, the Tacoma Galaxy, play at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington.

The club also fields an indoor women's side under the Tacoma Galaxy name.[1] The club fields two reserve teams both with the name Tacoma Stars Reserves, in the indoor WISL junior league,[2] and the outdoor youth Cascadia Premier League.[3]

History

The Stars were founded in 2003 as a member of the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL-Premier). The team is named after the Tacoma Stars that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1983 to 1992. The Stars won two PASL-Premier Championships (Summer 2004 & Winter 2009-2010).[4]

The Stars made the transition to professional status and joined the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) for the 2010-11 season. In 2012–13 season, the head coach was Joe Waters as the team moved into the new Pacific Sports Center.

The Stars went on hiatus on August 23, 2013. An amateur version of the club participated in the Premier Arena Soccer League as the Tacoma Galaxy in the 2013-14 season. On January 10, 2014, the Pacific Sports Center was placed into receivership, putting the future of the facility and the franchise in question.

In June 2014, it was announced that the Tacoma Stars would return to play in the Western Indoor Soccer League (WISL) at the Tacoma Soccer Center.

In January 2015, team owner Lane Smith acquired the assets of the failed Seattle Impact of the Major Arena Soccer League and announced that the Stars would complete the Impact's 2014–15 season at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, while completing their WISL obligations.

The Stars joined the National Premier Soccer League in 2020, and planned to field an outdoor team in the Northwest Conference through a partnership with Washington Premier FC. The outdoor team planned to play at Washington Premier FC Field in Waller, Washington, near Puyallup.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic NPSL halted play in the 2020 season, and the Northwest division did not play in 2021. Tacoma left NPSL in 2022 without having played a match.

On January 4, 2024, the Tacoma Stars was announced as an expansion team for the outdoor USL League Two, joining the Northwest Division. The team will play their home matches at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma.[6] An affiliated women's team, named the Tacoma Galaxy, will play in the USL W League beginning in 2024.[7]

Men's pro indoor leaders (Regular and Post)
AppearancesRaphael Cox - 112Danny Waltman - 109Chase Hanson - 104
PointsNick Perera - 177Mike Ramos - 146Raphael Cox - 86
GoalsNick Perera - 94Mike Ramos - 91Raphael Cox - 61
AssistsNick Perera - 84Mike Ramos - 55Raphael Cox - 34
SavesDanny Waltman - 2175Piotr Silwa - 190Chris Kintz - 175
FoulsVince Mcluskey - 154Nick Perera - 119Mike Ramos - 99

Year-by-year

League ChampionsRunners-upDivision championsPlayoff berth
Year League Record GF GA Finish Playoffs Avg. attendance U.S. Open Cup
2003PASL
2004PASL[8] [9] 4–0–056261st, NorthwestWon Championship
2004–05PASL[10] [11] [12] 6–2–064342nd, NorthwestEliminated in National Round Robin138[13]
2005–06PASL[14] [15] 3–4–032364th, NorthwestSuspended
2006–07PASL[16] [17] 10–1–0101401st, NorthwestLost National Elimination
2007–08PASL[18] [19] 5–5–21871494th, NorthwestLost Division Final
2008–09PASL-Premier[20] [21] 7–0–156311st, NorthwestLost National SemifinalLost semifinal
2009–10PASL-Premier6–1–150251st, NorthwestWon ChampionshipLost Round of 16
2010–11PASL-Pro10–61101042nd, WesternLost quarterfinal331Lost semifinal
2011–12PASL3–13921505th, WesternDid not qualify242Lost quarterfinal
2012–13PASL8–71161363rd, PacificDid not qualify314Lost quarterfinal
2013–14PASL-Premier6–0–255331st, NorthwestEliminated in National Group Play
2014–15WISL8–0–067251st, WISLWon Championship
2014–15MASL4–161202155th, PacificDid not qualify1,038
2015–16MASL13–71161093rd, PacificLost Division Semifinals2,475
2016–17MASL10–101141203rd, Pacific Did not qualify2,894
2017–18MASL11–111341342nd, PacificLost Division Finals2,635
2018–19MASL12–121621432nd, Pacific Lost Division Finals2,672
2019–20MASL8–121121245th, Western Did not qualify2,519
2021MASL4–753626th, MASLLost quarterfinalsNHG*
2021-22MASL6-181351924th, West Did Not Quality 1,200
2022-23MASL12-121551394th, WestLost Western Conference play-in1,175
Completing last 7 games of 20-game season after taking over for the Seattle Impact.

First full season competing in MASL.

* The Stars had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional playoffs

Year Won Lost GF GA Avg. attendance
20110169NHG
20160210192,036
20181210172,386
2019029132,412
2021021012NHG*
20230169TBA
* The Stars had no home games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Personnel

Active players

As of May 22, 2020.[22]

Venues

Venue City Type Team League Years
Tacoma Soccer Center Indoor Tacoma Stars PASL-Premier, PASL 2004-2011, 2013-2014, 2014-2015
Tacoma Stars Reserves WISL
Tacoma Galaxy NWPLi
Tacoma IndoorTacoma Stars PASL 2011-2012
Tacoma Indoor Tacoma Stars PASL 2012-2013
Indoor Tacoma Stars MASL 2015-
Tacoma Outdoor Tacoma Stars USL2 2024-
Tacoma Galaxy USL-W 2024-
Outdoor Tacoma Stars Reserves CPL
  1. As Tacoma Galaxy
  2. Starfire has both indoor and outdoor facilities.
  3. ShoWare is primarily a hockey arena.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tacoma Galaxy - Tacoma Stars. www.tacomastars.com.
  2. Web site: Stars Reserves - Tacoma Stars. www.tacomastars.com.
  3. Web site: Season Microsite. season-microsites.ui.sportsengine.com.
  4. Web site: Tacoma Stars are PASL-Premier Winter Champions. www.arenaleague.com. May 6, 2010.
  5. January 10, 2020 . The Tacoma Stars Join the NPSL for the 2020 Season . . January 11, 2020.
  6. January 4, 2024 . Tacoma Stars joining USL League Two in 2024 . USL League Two . January 4, 2024.
  7. News: Oshan . Jeremiah . February 2, 2024 . Tacoma Galaxy will join USL's W League . Sounder at Heart . February 4, 2024.
  8. Web site: Standings S2004 . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041209083720/http://arenaleague.com/Standings_S2004.html . December 9, 2004 . dead.
  9. Web site: National Tournament Summer 2004 Scores. arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041012025920/http://arenaleague.com/ScheduleSummerNationals%2004.html . October 12, 2004 . dead.
  10. Web site: Standings W2005 . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050403210751/http://arenaleague.com/standings_w2005.html . April 3, 2005 . dead.
  11. Web site: Winter Nationals 05 Teams . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050328075037/http://www.arenaleague.com/Winter_Nationals_05_Teams.html . March 28, 2005 . dead.
  12. Web site: Winter Nationals 05 Standings . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20041012025920/http://arenaleague.com/ScheduleSummerNationals%2004.html . October 12, 2004 . dead.
  13. Web site: Attendance Watch . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20050206054949/http://arenaleague.com:80/news.html . February 6, 2005 . dead.
  14. Web site: Premier Arena Soccer League Winter 2005/06 Standings . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312050237/http://www.arenaleague.com/premierMen/winter0506/index_E.html . March 12, 2012 . dead.
  15. Web site: League Playoff Picture . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060501191424/http://www.arenaleague.com:80/. May 1, 2006 . dead.
  16. Web site: Premier Arena Soccer League Winter 2006/07 Standings . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312050242/http://www.arenaleague.com/premierMen/winter0607/index_E.html . March 12, 2012 . dead.
  17. Web site: Studio Wins First International Championship . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071130081118/http://www.arenaleague.com/home/171697.html . November 30, 2007 . dead.
  18. Web site: Premier Arena Soccer League Winter 2007/08 Standings . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312050247/http://www.arenaleague.com/premierMen/winter0708/index_E.html . March 12, 2012 . dead.
  19. Web site: Division Champions Decided . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080328014611/http://www.arenaleague.com:80/ . March 28, 2008 . dead.
  20. Web site: Premier Arena Soccer League Winter 2008/09 Standings . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312050252/http://www.arenaleague.com/premierMen/winter0809/index_E.html . March 12, 2012 . dead.
  21. Web site: PASL-Premier National Finals . arenaleague.com . Premier Arena Soccer League . November 25, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090310020622/http://arenaleague.com/home/311226.html . March 10, 2009 . dead.
  22. Web site: Stats - Major Arena Soccer League. www.maslsoccer.com.