Tacoma Stars Drop the Steelheaders 9-2

The Tacoma Stars are in sole possession of first place in Premeir Arena Soccer League's Northwest Division after their 9-2 victory over the Central Oregon Steelheaders from Bend, Oregon.

The Stars will play the Snohomish Skyhawks on the road Saturday night before taking a few weeks off for the winter break. The next Tacoma Stars home match will be Sunday January 24th against the PSSA Rapids. The match will start at 7:00pm at the Soccer Center in Tacoma.

First 100 Kids at the Tacoma Stars Game Saturday Get a Free T-Shirt!

Sporthaus Schmetzer and the Tacoma Stars have teamed up to offer the first 100 youth fans at the Tacoma Stars December 13th home match against the Central Oregon Steelheaders a free Stars t-shirt.

The Stars opened the season last weekend with a win over the Snohimish Skyhawks in head coach Greg Howes debut. This weekend Tacoma will look to work out the kinks in their system and move to 2-0 against a Steelheader team that will have made the drive from Bend Oregon that day.

Fans over 21 can watch the match from the Star Bar and enjoy special pricing on Bud and Bud Light. Doyle's Irish Pub offers a prematch special for Stars fans. Come out and celebrate another great season with Tacoma's premier indoor soccer team.

Saturday December 13th at 7pm
Soccer Center in Tacoma

Stars Victors in Greg Howes Coaching Debut

The Tacoma Stars started the Greg Howes era with a 7-3 win over the Snohomish Skyhawks at the Soccer Center in Tacoma Saturday night.

Hector Rodriguez scored the first goal of the season for the Skyhawks less than one minute into the match to give the visitors an early lead, before Lee Williams would get the Stars first goal of the season on the first of three penalty kicks awarded on the night to bring the Stars level with 8:55 left in the first. Williams converted the first effort, but an encroachment penalty against the Stars forced him to retake the kick and bury it again in the back of the net with 8:07 left in the first period.

Jeremy Bonner set up Julio Reyes for his first goal of the year with 1:10 left in the first to give the visiting Skyhawks the lead going into the first break. Tacoma weathered an early second period storm from the Skyhawks before Jeff Hallenbeck was called for pushing in the box with 10:37 left in the half to put Williams on the penalty spot for the second time. This time around he converted on the first effort with no need for a retake and drew the Stars level. Halenbeck converted from the penalty spot later in the period and put Snohomish ahead thanks to a foul by Tacoma’s goal keeper Chris Kintz.

Tacoma drew level with a power play goal from Joey Gjertson, set up by Danny Minniti who had an outstanding match for the Stars.

The Stars outscored Snohomish 4-0 in the second half of the match. Lee Williams completed the hat trick with his first goal from the run of play on the season with 3:07 remaining in the third quarter. Luka Rydberg doubled the lead just before the end of the third on a goal assisted by Mike Francis.

Francis finished the scoring for the Stars with 5:44 left in match on Tacoma’s second power play goal of the match.

Despite the win, Stars coach Greg Howes saw a lot of improvement that needed to be made by his squad if they are to be serious contenders for the PASL Premier National Title.

Next up for Tacoma is another home match against the Central Oregon Steelheaders on December 13 at 7pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and the match will be held at the Soccer Center in Tacoma.

Tacoma Stars Open The 2008-2009 Season Saturday Night Against Snohomish

COME CHEER ON YOUR TACOMA STARS AT THEIR FIRST HOME GAME THIS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH @ 7:00PM DOORS OPEN @ 6:30.

TICKET PRICES: ADULT $5.00, YOUTH (11-18) $3.00, FAMILY PASS $13.00 (2 ADULTS & 2 KIDS), CHILDREN 10 AND UNDER ARE FREE

**NEW THIS SEASON**

STAR BAR - ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE STAR BAR WILL GO TO SUPPORT THE TEAM. STAR BAR WILL BE LOCATED ON THE SMALL FIELD.
JOIN THE TEAM FOR THE AFTER PARTY IN THE STAR BAR!

DOYLE'S PUBLIC HOUSE (208 SAINT HELENS AVE TACOMA, 98402 -253.272.PINT)WILL BE OFFERING A BEER SPECIAL FOR ALL TACOMA STARS FANS BEFORE THE GAME. PURCHASE ONE PINT OF BASS ALE THE DAY OF THE GAME (UNTIL 6:30PM) AND RECEIVE ONE FREE ADMISSION INTO THE STARS GAME.

FOOD DRIVE- THE SOCCER CENTER WILL BE ACCEPTING NON-PERISHABLE FOOD DONATIONS FOR NORTHWEST HARVEST DURING THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. ANYTHING YOU CAN DONATE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Tacoma Stars Academy

The Tacoma Stars are kicking off of their first ever youth soccer academies on Monday November 10^th at the Soccer Center in Tacoma. Classes will be taught be Tacoma Stars head coach, Greg Howes, who was selected the Most Valuable Player in the Major Indoor Soccer League three times and led the league in scoring four times. The program is open to players ages 7-18 and includes six one hour sessions with Howes and the Tacoma Stars coaching staff plus every participant will receive a Tacoma Stars T-Shirt and soccer ball.

The academy is the first program designed specifically to develop high caliber indoor soccer players in the Northwest. It capitalizes on the Tacoma Stars long tradition of high caliber indoor soccer started in the early 1990’s and continuing today with the Tacoma Stars of the Premier Arena Soccer League. The training will help players develop confidence in their basic soccer skills and skills specific to the indoor game including how to play and defend the ball off the walls and in the corners, indoor offensive and defensive strategy and team movement.

Space is limited, register at the Soccer Center in Tacoma or online at SoccerCenterTacoma.com.

Tacoma Stars Indoor Academy Schedule Starting November 10^th

Monday- Youth Training Program
6-7pm 7&8 Year Olds
7-8pm 9&10 Year Olds
8-9pm 11&12 Year Olds

Thursday- Indoor Player Development
6-7pm 13-16 Year Olds
7-8pm 17+ Year Olds
8-9pm Futsol Clinic All Ages

Register for Tacoma Stars Academy Sessions at SoccerCenterTacoma.com

The Tacoma Stars 2008-2009 Schedule

The Tacoma Stars 2008-2009 PASL Premier League schedule includes two home matches in early December to start the season and two trips up North to play their rivals the Snohomish Skyhawks.

All of the Tacoma Stars home matches will be played at the Soccer Center in Tacoma. Home games are in bold.

Tacoma Stars 2008-2009 Schedule

vs the Snohomish Skyhawks
December 6th, 7pm

vs The Central Oregon Steelheaders (Bend, OR.)
December 13th, 7pm

at the Snohomish Skyhawks
December 20th, 7pm

(Winter Break)

at the Wenatchee Fire
January 4th, 3:30pm

at the Snohomish Skyhawks
January 10th, 7pm

vs the PSSA Rapids (Bellingham, WA)
January 24th, 7pm

vs the Wenatchee Fire
February 7th, 7pm

at the PSSA Rapids (Bellingham, WA)
February 14th, 7pm

Four Tacoma Stars Chosen to Represent the USA in Monterrey

10/20/08 - United States National Arena Soccer Team (USNAST) Head Coach Bernie Lilavois made the final seven selections to represent the US in the Torneo Internacional de Futbol Rapido Monterrey 2008 November 5-9 in Monterrey, Mexico.

Joining the seven players previously selected are goalkeeper Chris Kintz, defenders Al Valencia, Lee Williams, and Garret Brown, midfielders Nick Kelly and Alex Megson and forward Junior Garcia.

Kintz, Williams, Megson and Brown were teammates on the PASL-Premier Tacoma Stars. Williams played last season with the then California Cougars of the MISL. Kelly spent last winter with the Kansas City Kings of the PASL-Premier. Valencia and Garcia have been signed to the Wenatchee Fire of the PASL-Pro.

USNAST Assistant Coaches Jamie Swanner and Greg Howes sent their recommendations to Lilavois, who made the final decisions. There were some players who went to July's Circuito Mundial 2008 in Montreal that Lilavois wanted to bring to Mexico, but the games would have interfered with the PASL-Pro regular season.

"There will come a time when the USNAST takes precedence over everything," said Lilavois, "but right now with the PASL-Pro in its first season we felt it was more important for those players to represent their local teams and play for their fans at home." Lilavois will be the only returning player from the Montreal roster that lost 6-4 to Mexico and 10-9 to Canada.

Player Position Birthdate Height/Weight Bio

Justin Dzuba Goalkeeper 7/3/1984 6'3" 160 lbs. Went to University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), signed with Denver Dynamite (PASL-Pro) played for Colorado Rush, Southern Colorado Stars (PASL-Premier), recorded two shutouts in PASL-Premier Summer 2008 season

Chris Kintz Goalkeeper 5/19/1983 Recently re-signed with the Tacoma Stars of PASL-Premier, played for Cascade College

Jake Harris Defender 5/8/1984 5'11" 170 lbs. From Little Rock, AR, signed with Denver Dynamite (PASL-Pro) played for the Colorado Predators (PASL-Premier) Bakersfield Brigade, Springfield Demize, and Springfield Storm (USL-PDL), played college for Missouri State University

Ryan Creager Defender 8/25/1984 6"0" 70 lbs. From Sandy, UT, Player/Assistant Coach Denver Dynamite (PASL-Pro), played for Colorado Rush (PASL-Premier), Colorado Springs Blizzard (USL-PDL) and Utah Salt Ratz (MPSL), played for Colorado State University (Pueblo)

Al Valencia Defender 12/26/1985 5'9" 165 lbs. Signed with Wenatchee Fire (PASL-Pro), Team captain Yakima Reds (USL-PDL) since 2006. Played for Wenatchee Valley Community College

Lee Williams Defender 8/8/1982 6'3" 195 lbs. Played for and recently signed with Tacoma Stars (PASL-Premier), drafted by Monterrey La Raza (MISL), traded to California Cougars (MISL) and played 18 games in 2007-08

Garret Brown Defender Played for Tacoma Stars (PASL-Premier)

Jay Hamilton Midfielder 7/2/1979 5'9" 140 lbs. From Moore, OK, signed with Denver Dynamite (PASL-Pro), played for Colorado Predators (PASL-Premier), trained with San Diego Sockers (MISL), went to UNLV

Nick Kelly Midfielder 4/20/1986 Played for Kansas City Kings (PASL-Premier), was Honorable Mention All-Conference midfielder at Columbia College

Alex Megson Midfielder 5/11/1986 Son of star indoor defender Neil Megson, played this season with Seattle Sounders (USL-D1), signed with Tacoma Stars (PASL-Premier)

Junior Garcia Midfielder 7/19/1986 5'8" 160 lbs. Born in Colima, Mexico, signed with Wenatchee Fire (PASL-Pro), 2008 USL-PDL MVP with Yakima Reds,

Tony Thomas Forward 3/7/1979 5'9" 140 lbs. From Yukon, OK, signed with Denver Dynamite (PASL-Pro), played for Colorado Predators (PASL-Premier), Boulder Rapids Reserves and Springfield Storm (USL-PDL), All-American at Metro State College

Greg Howes, Assistant Coach Forward 3/26/1977 6'0" 185 lbs. Most accomplished active arena soccer player, three-time MISL MVP, played eight years with Milwaukee Wave (MISL), played for Seattle Sounders, Rochester Rhinos, Wave United, Portland Timbers (USL-D1), played for US National Futsal Team, currently Head Coach Tacoma Stars (PASL-Premier)

Bernie Lilavois, Head Coach Forward 8/31/1970 5'11" 165 lbs. 433 career goals, playe/Head Coach Stockton Cougars (PASL-Pro), played 16 indoor seasons in 14 years, played in A-League, Scottish First Division, played for US National Futsal Team, 2 caps with USNAST, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist

About Professional Arena Soccer League

PASL-Pro is a new professional arena soccer league whose inaugural season kicks off October 25, 2008 when the Stockton Cougars host the Colorado Lightning. PASL-Pro consists of 8 US teams, the CMISL, and LMFR. The San Diego Sockers have been added for the 2009/10 season. PASL-Premier just completed its 10th season as the nation's top amateur arena soccer league. PASL-Pro and PASL-Premier are members of Federacion Internacional de Futbol Rapido (FIFRA).