Tacoma Stars


The Tacoma Stars are an American professional indoor soccer team based in Tacoma, Washington, that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League. The franchise also operates in USL League Two, a minor outdoor league. Founded in 2003, the indoor team plays its home games at ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. First playing in 2024, the outdoor men's team and outdoor women's team, the Tacoma Galaxy, play home games at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma.
The club also fields an indoor women's side under the Tacoma Galaxy name. The club fields two reserve teams both with the name Tacoma Stars Reserves, in the indoor WISL junior league, and the outdoor youth Cascadia Premier League.

History

The Stars were founded in 2003 as a member of the Premier Arena Soccer League. 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.
The Stars made the transition to professional status and joined the Professional Arena Soccer League 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 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. 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.
In 2023, the Tacoma Stars won the North American Sand Soccer U.S. Men's Open Division Championship in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with a 3-2 victory over Maryzillians in the final. The team, which went 6-0 in the tournament, included Nick Perera, Cory Keitz, and Fellipe Souza, along with former players Chris Toth, Alessandro Canale, and Mike Palmerin. Perera was named the Tournament MVP, and Toth received the Top Goalkeeper award.
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. An affiliated women's team, named the Tacoma Galaxy, will play in the USL W League beginning in 2024.
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

YearLeagueRecordGFGAFinishPlayoffsAvg. attendanceU.S. Open Cup
2003PASL-
2004PASL4–0–056261st, NorthwestWon Championship-
2004–05PASL6–2–064342nd, NorthwestEliminated in National Round Robin138-
2005–06PASL3–4–032364th, NorthwestSuspended-
2006–07PASL10–1–0101401st, NorthwestLost National Elimination-
2007–08PASL5–5–21871494th, NorthwestLost Division Final-
2008–09PASL-Premier7–0–156311st, 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, PacificDid not qualify2,894-
2017–18MASL11–111341342nd, PacificLost Division Finals2,635-
2018–19MASL12–121621432nd, PacificLost Division Finals2,672-
2019–20MASL8–121121245th, WesternDid not qualify2,519-
2021MASL4–753626th, MASLLost quarterfinalsNHG*-
2021-22MASL6-181351924th, WestDid Not Quality1,200-
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

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

Tournament victories

U.S. Men's Open - North American Sand Soccer Championship .

Personnel

Active players

''As of 2024.''

Venues

VenueCityTypeTeamLeagueYears
Tacoma Soccer CenterTacomaIndoorTacoma StarsPASL-Premier, PASL2004-2011, 2013-2014, 2014-2015
Tacoma Soccer CenterTacomaIndoorTacoma Stars ReservesWISL-
Tacoma Soccer CenterTacomaIndoorTacoma GalaxyNWPLi-
Starfire Sports ComplexTukwilaIndoorTacoma StarsPASL2011-2012
Pacific Sports CenterTacomaIndoorTacoma StarsPASL2012-2013
accesso ShoWare CenterKentIndoorTacoma StarsMASL2015-
Bellarmine Preparatory SchoolTacomaOutdoorTacoma StarsUSL22024-
Bellarmine Preparatory SchoolTacomaOutdoorTacoma GalaxyUSL-W2024-
Curtis Senior High SchoolUniversity PlaceOutdoorTacoma Stars ReservesCPL-

  1. As Tacoma Galaxy
  2. Starfire has both indoor and outdoor facilities.
  3. ShoWare is primarily a hockey arena.