Tacoma Stars Sign Six In Preparation For Home Opener This Weekend

Published on December 2, 2011 under Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL)
Tacoma Stars News Release


The Tacoma Stars of the Professional Arena Soccer League have announced the signings of six players leading up to their home opener this weekend, highlighted by former MLS goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, former MLS midfielder Raphael Cox, and defender Dan Scott, who captained the Kitsap Pumas to the PDL Championship this past summer. Other signees are midfielder Cam Vickers and forwards Amos Freheit and Dayo Oyetuga. The Stars open their PASL home campaign this Sat (7pm) and Sun (3pm) at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila against the Phoenix Monsoon.

Dragavon, 28, enjoyed stints with Seattle Sounders FC, Columbus Crew, and FC Toronto as an MLS pool goalkeeper in 2009, and was with the Seattle Sounders USL club from 2006-08. He's been out of soccer since a back injury interrupted his first season with the Austin Aztex of the USL in 2010, and he's now landed indoors with the Stars.

"The amount of time Ben's been out of the game is a lot for a goalkeeper. The timing and sharpness is much harder to get back compared to a field player, "said Head Coach/General Manager Todd Stauber. "On top of that. throw him indoors, where everything is twice as fast.."

While Dragavon has slowly built his fitness level back to game pace over the past two months, Sean Conlon and Claudiu Lazar have shared time in the net for the Stars, with Conlon emerging as the starter over the past few weeks.

"Sean Conlon is our starter at the moment, and he's done very well," said Stauber. "But I'm going to give Drago a game this weekend and see what we can get out of him. He's got a lot of experience at a high level and how can you not give him a chance? We just have to see how his body holds up and take it from there."

Cox, 24, Scott, 24, and Freheit, 26, all played roles in Tacoma's playoff run last season. Cox finished with 9 points (5G, 4A), Scott scored 4 goals in 12 matches, and Freheit recorded 3 points in 3 games. Cox spent the summer outdoors with the Atlanta Silverbacks of the NASL, where he was No. 5 on the team in minutes and recorded 2 goals and 2 assists.

Vickers played with the Tacoma Tide in the PDL this summer after three years at Sonoma State University and has impressed Stauber.

"Cam's done well to earn a spot out of open tryouts and now push into the lineup. He fits into our midfield very well and adds another player that can break guys down."

Oyetuga, 31, starred at the University of Washington in the early 2000's, and last played professionally in 2004 with AC Oulu of the Finish 1st Division.

The Stars host their first two home PASL matches of the season on Saturday and Sunday against the Phoenix Monsoon at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. Admission is free.

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Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 2, 2011


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