2012 Minnesota Stars FC season
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| 2012 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Paul Erickson | ||
| Head coach | Manny Lagos | ||
| Stadium | National Sports Center | ||
| NASL | 3rd | ||
| NASL Playoffs | Runners-Up | ||
| U.S. Open Cup | Fourth round vs San Jose Earthquakes | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Amani Walker (7) All: Amani Walker (9) | ||
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| |||
The 2012 Minnesota Stars FC season was the club's third year of existence and their first season under the simple moniker Minnesota Stars after being called NSC Minnesota Stars for their first two seasons of existence. The team played in the North American Soccer League, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, for the second consecutive year.
Outside of NASL play, the Stars competed in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, reaching the fourth round before losing to the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.
The Minnesota Stars FC Started the 2012 Regular season as the defending NASL Champions. The home opener was scheduled at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome vs the defending NASL regular season champions, the Carolina RailHawks.
The Stars were still leagued owned at the start of the season; this could have meant that the 2012 season could have been the last season for the franchise.
On November 8, 2012, NASL announced that Dr. William McGuire would be the new owner of the Stars, saving the Stars from possible contraction.[1]
Roster
- As of match played October 27, 2012
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||||||||
| 1 | Mitch Hildebrandt |  |
GK | 12 November 1988 (aged 23) | Oakland Golden Grizzlies | 2012 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 30 | Matt Van Oekel | |
GK | 20 September 1986 (aged 26) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Defenders | ||||||||||
| 2 | Justin Davis | |
DF | 6 May 1988 (aged 24) | New Mexico Lobos | 2011 | 60 | 2 | ||
| 3 | Cristiano |  |
DF | 25 May 1986 (aged 26) | Miami | 2011 | 44 | 1 | ||
| 5 | Edi Buro |  |
DF | 19 September 1987 (aged 25) | Travnik |
2012 | ||||
| 6 | Kevin Friedland | |
DF | 3 October 1981 (aged 31) | Kansas City Wizards | 2004 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 14 | Brian Kallman | |
DF | 23 April 1984 (aged 28) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | 64 | 1 | ||
| 15 | Evan Sassano | |
DF | 22 November 1987 (aged 24) | 2012 | |||||
| 16 | Kyle Altman | |
DF | 31 January 1986 (aged 26) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | ||||
| 20 | Connor Tobin | |
DF | 11 February 1987 (aged 25) | Rochester Rhinos | 2012 | ||||
| 28 | Ernest Tchoupe |  |
DF | 23 December 1987 (aged 24) |  Expreso Rojo |
2012 | ||||
| Midfielders | ||||||||||
| 4 | Neil Hlavaty | |
MF | 27 December 1986 (aged 25) |  Jagiellonia Białystok |
2010 | 85 | 13 | ||
| 8 | Daniel Wasson | |
MF | 15 June 1984 (aged 28) |  VfL Osnabrück |
2010 | ||||
| 13 | Kentaro Takada |  |
MF | 13 April 1983 (aged 29) | Rochester Thunder | 2010 | ||||
| 19 | Shawn Chin | |
MF | 11 May 1989 (aged 23) |  Edmonton |
2012 | ||||
| 22 | Kevin Venegas | |
MF | 29 July 1989 (aged 23) | Fullerton Titans | 2010 | 23 | 2 | ||
| 23 | Miguel Ibarra | |
MF | 15 March 1990 (aged 22) | UC Irvine Anteaters | 2012 | 31 | 5 | ||
| 24 | Michael Reed | |
MF | 28 October 1987 (aged 24) | PSC Soccer Academy | 2012 | ||||
| 32 | Lucas Rodríguez |  |
MF | 8 February 1986 (aged 26) | Kansas City Brass | 2010 | ||||
| 77 | Andy Lorei | |
MF | 25 March 1989 (aged 23) | Real Maryland | 2011 | ||||
| Forwards | ||||||||||
| 7 | Fuad Ibrahim |  |
FW | 15 August 1991 (aged 21) | 2012 | |||||
| 9 | Martin Nuñez |  |
FW | 2 February 1987 (aged 25) | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 2012 | ||||
| 10 | Simone Bracalello |  |
FW | 21 October 1985 (aged 27) | 2010 | 83 | 20 | |||
| 11 | Amani Walker |  |
FW | 16 December 1989 (aged 22) | Orange County Blue Star | 2011 | 48 | 10 | ||
| 17 | Geison Moura | |
MF | 16 July 1986 (aged 26) | Rockford Rampage | 2010 | ||||
| 21 | Devin Del Do | |
FW | 21 May 1986 (aged 26) | 2010 | |||||
| 26 | Travis Wall | |
FW | 4 January 1990 (aged 22) | Columbus Crew | 2012 | ||||
| Players away on loan | ||||||||||
| Players who left during the season | ||||||||||
Staff
Transfers
Winter
Summer
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In: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Out: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Friendlies
| March 9, 2012 | Chicago Fire Soccer Club | 3–1 | Minnesota Stars | Bridgeview |
| 10:00 CDT (UTC−5) | Report | Stadium: Toyota Park Practice Field |
| March 9, 2012 | Chicago Fire Reserves | 1–1 | Minnesota Stars | Bridgeview |
| 12:30 CDT (UTC−5) | Report | Stadium: Toyota Park Practice Field |
| March 16, 2012 | Hastings College | 1–2 | Minnesota Stars | Hastings |
| 14:00 CDT (UTC−5) | Report |
| March 18, 2012 | Omaha Mavericks | 1–2 | Minnesota Stars | Omaha |
| 13:00 CDT (UTC−5) | Report | Stadium: Creighton University |
| April 2, 2012 | Minnesota Stars | 2–0 | Edmonton | Minneapolis |
| 13:00 CDT (UTC−5) | Report | Stadium: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden |
