Tacoma Stars Return to PASL for 2nd Season With New Leadership, New Home

October 20, 2011 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Tacoma Stars News Release


The Tacoma Stars begin their second season back as a professional franchise when they open play in the Western Conference of the Premier Arena Soccer League on November 4th in Turlock, CA against the Turlock Express. The Stars open their home campaign on December 3rd against the Phoenix Monsoon at their new home for the 2011/2012 season, Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.

The Stars made the jump to the PASL's professional division last season and found great success, finishing second in the Western Division behind eventual champion San Diego. Tacoma qualified for the PASL-Pro Playoffs in Cincinnati with the second place finish, marking a highly successful return to the professional ranks of indoor soccer for the franchise. The Stars were eliminated by Guadalajara, 9-6, in the opening round of the playoffs, but set the stage for the 2011/2012 season with their success.

Tacoma will enter the season with a new look in the front office, as former player Todd Stauber takes over as the general manager. Stauber, brings indoor playing, coaching, and managing experience, and is looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity and the experience." Said Stauber, 37. "We're looking to build on what we accomplished last year, and we feel like we have the players to do that."

Stauber played professionally indoors and won titles with both the Seattle SeaDogs (CISL) in 1997 and the Lafayette SwampCats (EISL) in 1998. He was the General Manager and Player/Head Coach of the WSA Rapids of the PASL Premier from 2007-2010 before leaving to play in the PASL-Pro with Tacoma last season.

In the off-season, Tacoma lost their head coach and leading scorer Greg Howes to the Milwaukie Wave of the Major Indoor Soccer League, marking a big turning point for the club. Howes, a Tacoma native, had been the cornerstone of the franchise and led them to the 2010 amateur championship and through their first season as a professional franchise since 1992.

Stauber has replaced Howes with Leighton O'Brien, a Stars player for the past three seasons and a soccer icon in the Pacific Northwest. O'Brien, 35, is most often known for his 10 year professional outdoor career, in which he played in the MLS, Sweden, and with the USL Seattle Sounders, where he helped his hometown team to USL Championships in 2005 and 2007. He also has considerable professional indoor experience from a season with the Sacramento Knights of the WISL, two seasons with the Milwaukie Wave of the MISL, and the past three seasons with the Stars in the PASL.

Staubers' first move as a general manager wasn't a move he had to think long about.

"Losing Howsey isn't easy," said Stauber, "Not only is he a fantastic player, but he was the heart and soul of this organization and the guy that lead us back into the professional ranks. But there's no question in my mind that Leighton O'Brien is the right guy to take over. He's respected as a player, as a coach, and as a person, by every guy in our locker room and I'm very confident he's going to help get us to the next level as a club."

Tacoma completes their face-lift with a move into their new home at the Starfire Sports Complex. As the Stars old home at the Tacoma Soccer Center became unavailable to them for the 2011/2012 season, ownership moved the team to the highly regarded Starfire Complex in Tukwila for their second season in the PASL-Pro. Starfire is also home to the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer and is well know to be one of the top soccer complexes on the West Coast.

"I can't say enough about the facility at Starfire," said Stauber. "The arena is quality and it gives us exposure at the biggest and best soccer complex in Washington State."

The Tacoma Stars soccer franchise was founded in 1982 as part of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. The team played for 10 years at the Tacoma Dome, drawing huge crowds and finding massive success in what was then the highest level of soccer in the United States. The Stars drew a record 21,000 fans to the 1986/87 MISL Championship game at the Tacoma Dome, but unfortunately the team ceased to operate after the 1992 season and the MISL folded.

In 2008 Marion Bowers brought the Stars out of dormancy and into the Premier Arena Soccer League , a national semi-professional league. In their first two seasons the Stars won the Pacific Northwest Division and qualified for the national playoffs, and in 2010 Tacoma won the PASL Premier title after an undefeated season, leading them to turn professional for the 2010-11 season.

Professional Arena Soccer League

Western Division

San Diego Sockers

Tacoma Stars

Turlock Express

Anaheim Bolts

Phoenix Monsoon

Revolucion Tijuana

Eastern Division

Cincinnati Kings

Louisville Lightning

Detroit Waza

Ohio Vortex

Kansas Magic

Illinois Piasa



Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from October 20, 2011


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