2012 Minnesota Stars FC season

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.

NSC Minnesota Stars
2012 season
OwnerPaul Erickson
Head coachManny Lagos
StadiumNational Sports Center
NASL3rd
NASL PlayoffsRunners-Up
U.S. Open CupFourth round vs San Jose Earthquakes
Top goalscorerLeague: Amani Walker (7)
All: Amani Walker (9)
← 2011
2013 →

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.

Background

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.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (Age)Signed fromSigned inContract endsApps.Goals
Goalkeepers
1Mitch Hildebrandt GK (1988-11-12)12 November 1988 (aged 23)Oakland Golden Grizzlies201230
30Matt Van Oekel GK (1986-09-20)20 September 1986 (aged 26)Minnesota Thunder2010410
Defenders
2Justin Davis DF (1988-05-06)6 May 1988 (aged 24)New Mexico Lobos2011602
3Cristiano DF (1986-05-25)25 May 1986 (aged 26)Miami2011441
5Edi Buro DF (1987-09-19)19 September 1987 (aged 25) Travnik2012
6Kevin Friedland DF (1981-10-03)3 October 1981 (aged 31)Kansas City Wizards2004331
14Brian Kallman DF (1984-04-23)23 April 1984 (aged 28)Minnesota Thunder2010641
15Evan Sassano DF (1987-11-22)22 November 1987 (aged 24)2012
16Kyle Altman DF (1986-01-31)31 January 1986 (aged 26)Minnesota Thunder2010
20Connor Tobin DF (1987-02-11)11 February 1987 (aged 25)Rochester Rhinos2012
28Ernest Tchoupe DF (1987-12-23)23 December 1987 (aged 24) Expreso Rojo2012
Midfielders
4Neil Hlavaty MF (1986-12-27)27 December 1986 (aged 25) Jagiellonia Białystok20108513
8Daniel Wasson MF (1984-06-15)15 June 1984 (aged 28) VfL Osnabrück2010
13Kentaro Takada MF (1983-04-13)13 April 1983 (aged 29)Rochester Thunder2010
19Shawn Chin MF (1989-05-11)11 May 1989 (aged 23) Edmonton2012
22Kevin Venegas MF (1989-07-29)29 July 1989 (aged 23)Fullerton Titans2010232
23Miguel Ibarra MF (1990-03-15)15 March 1990 (aged 22)UC Irvine Anteaters2012315
24Michael Reed MF (1987-10-28)28 October 1987 (aged 24)PSC Soccer Academy2012
32Lucas Rodríguez MF (1986-02-08)8 February 1986 (aged 26)Kansas City Brass2010
77Andy Lorei MF (1989-03-25)25 March 1989 (aged 23)Real Maryland2011
Forwards
7Fuad Ibrahim FW (1991-08-15)15 August 1991 (aged 21)2012
9Martin Nuñez FW (1987-02-02)2 February 1987 (aged 25)Fort Lauderdale Strikers2012
10Simone Bracalello FW (1985-10-21)21 October 1985 (aged 27)20108320
11Amani Walker FW (1989-12-16)16 December 1989 (aged 22)Orange County Blue Star20114810
17Geison Moura MF (1986-07-16)16 July 1986 (aged 26)Rockford Rampage2010
21Devin Del Do FW (1986-05-21)21 May 1986 (aged 26)2010
26Travis Wall FW (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 22)Columbus Crew2012
Players away on loan
Players who left during the season

Staff

Transfers

Winter

Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Summer

Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. 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)ReportStadium: Toyota Park Practice Field
March 9, 2012 Chicago Fire Reserves 1–1 Minnesota Stars Bridgeview
12:30 CDT (UTC−5)ReportStadium: 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)ReportStadium: Creighton University
v Edmonton
April 2, 2012 Minnesota Stars 2–0 Edmonton Minneapolis
13:00 CDT (UTC−5)ReportStadium: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Competitions

NASL

Standings

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
4Carolina RailHawks28101084446−240Playoff quarterfinals
5Fort Lauderdale Strikers2899104046−636
6Minnesota United2881193433+135
7Atlanta Silverbacks2879123546−1130
8FC Edmonton28510132636−1025
Source: NASL Standings
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results

April 7, 2012 1 Minnesota Stars 0–0 Carolina RailHawks Minneapolis
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Takada  73'SummaryNurse  67'Stadium: Humphrey Metrodome
Attendance: 8,693
Referee: Terry Vaughn
April 14, 2012 2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 0–0 Minnesota Stars Fort Lauderdale
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Lorenz  83'SummaryTakada  52'
Friedland  72'
Del Do  78'
Stadium: Lockhart Stadium
Attendance: 2,916
Referee: Sorin Stoica
April 22, 2012 3 Edmonton 3–4 Minnesota Stars Edmonton
15:30 CDT (UTC−5)Saiko 5'
Hatchi  7'
Hamilton 52'
Porter 63'
Rago  84'
SummaryHlavaty 8' (pen.)
Altman 16'  30'
Takada 68'
Del Do 90+2'
Stadium: Foote Field
Attendance: 1,273
Referee: Justin Tasev
April 28, 2012 4 Atlanta Silverbacks 3–3 Minnesota Stars Chamblee
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Navia 48', 64'  81'
Santamaria 79'
SummaryWalker 66'
Del Do 88'
Davis 90'  90'
Stadium: Silverbacks Park
Attendance: 4,176
May 5, 2012 5 Minnesota Stars 2–0 Atlanta Silverbacks Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Tchoupe 24'  40'
Takada  42'
Davis  59'
Ibarra 76'
SummaryRobertson  33'
Lancaster  52'
Carr  59'   88'
Cox  70'
McManus  70'   71'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 1,692
May 13, 2012 6 Minnesota Stars 2–1 Carolina RailHawks Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Walker 16'
Venegas 52'
SummaryAgbossoumonde  60'
da Luz 90+1'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,168
May 20, 2012 7 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1–3 Minnesota Stars Fort Lauderdale
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Anderson 36'
Thompson  38'
Restrepo  57'
SummaryWalker 45'
Ibarra 63'
Kallman  72'
Davis  80'
Bracalello 83'
Hlavaty  90'
Stadium: Lockhart Stadium
Attendance: 2,720
Referee: Armando Villarreal
May 27, 2012 8 Tampa Bay Rowdies 0–0 Minnesota Stars St. Petersburg
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Campbell  69'SummaryStadium: Progress Energy Park
Attendance: 3,182
Referee: Ted Unkel
June 3, 2012 9 San Antonio Scorpions 0–0 Minnesota Stars San Antonio
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)SummaryIbrahim  63'Stadium: Heroes Stadium
Attendance: 8,639
Referee: Jorge Luna
June 10, 2012 10 Carolina RailHawks 5–1 Minnesota Stars Cary
18:00 CDT (UTC−5)King 24'
Lowery  25'
Zimmerman 41'
Shriver 53'
Schilawski 61'
Garey 90+4'
SummaryBracalello 45+2'
Altman  82'
Hlavaty  82'
Davis  90'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 2,580
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
June 17, 2012 11 Minnesota Stars 1–2 Tampa Bay Rowdies Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Nuñez 8'  25'
Kallman  90+1'
SummaryYoshitake 45+1'
Hill  45+1'
Savage 85'
Ambersley  89'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,908
June 24, 2012 12 Minnesota Stars 2–1 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Hlavaty 17' (pen.)
Tobin  24'
Bracalello 39'
Nuñez  69'
SummaryOtte  5'
Herron  15'
Ståhl  16'
Anderson 26'
Lorenz  83'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,442
July 1, 2012 13 Tampa Bay Rowdies 2–0 Minnesota Stars St. Petersburg
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Ambersley 55'
Yoshitake 88'
SummaryStadium: Progress Energy Park
Attendance: 2,594
Referee: Kevin Terry
July 5, 2012 14 Minnesota Stars 4–0 Puerto Rico Islanders Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Hlavaty  15'
Nuñez 18', 55'
Bracalello 45'
Walker 81'
ReportvanSchaik  78'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,199
July 8, 2012 15 Minnesota Stars 0–2 Atlanta Silverbacks Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Venegas  35'ReportHorth 10'
Duran  43'
McManus  68'
Carr 75'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 1,728
July 13, 2012 16 Minnesota Stars 2–1 Tampa Bay Rowdies Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Nuñez 30'
Cristiano  37'
Takada 44'
Venegas  64'
ReportAmbersley 78'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,164
July 19, 2012 17 Minnesota Stars 1–2 Fort Lauderdale Strikers Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Bracalello  38' 64'
Nuñez  70'
ReportStewart  29'
Anderson 34', 42'
King  40'
Herron  62'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 4,034
July 22, 2012 18 Carolina RailHawks 1–0 Minnesota Stars Cary
18:00 CDT (UTC−5)Schilawski 10'
Lowery  60'
Low  72'   77'
ReportE.Sassano  69'
Bracalello  81'
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,158
July 29, 2012 19 Puerto Rico Islanders 1–0 Minnesota Stars Bayamón, Puerto Rico
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Vázquez  39'
Delgado 49'  67'
Telesford  67'
Nurse  76'
Faña  81'
ReportDavis  86'
Ibarra  90'
Stadium: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Attendance: 1,357
August 5, 2012 20 Edmonton 1–1 Minnesota Stars Edmonton
20:05 CDT (UTC−5)Barthélémy  20'
Cox 88'
Hamilton  90'
ReportNuñez 44'Stadium: Clarke Stadium
Attendance: 1,536
August 12, 2012 21 Minnesota Stars 0–1 San Antonio Scorpions Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Kallman  88'
Nuñez  90+1'
ReportWagner  26'
Denissen 71' (pen.)
Campos  77'
Knight  90+1'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 3,221
August 19, 2012 22 Atlanta Silverbacks 0–0 Minnesota Stars Chamblee
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)O'Brien  61'   61'SummaryAltman  23'
Davis  90'
Stadium: Atlanta Silverbacks Park
Attendance: 3,911
August 26, 2012 23 Minnesota Stars 1–1 Edmonton Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Cristiano 17'
Davis  40'
Venegas  44'
SummaryHamilton  19'
Arguez 74'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,427
September 2, 2012 24 Minnesota Stars 1–1 San Antonio Scorpions Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Walker 33'
Takada  45'
Kallman  63'
SummaryPitchkolan  15'
Janicki  60'
Denissen 69'  73'
Harmse  79'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 1,705
September 8, 2012 25 Minnesota Stars 1–1 Edmonton Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Walker 19'SummaryCox  33'
Saiko 90+2'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,365
September 11, 2012 26 Minnesota Stars 4–0 Puerto Rico Islanders Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Polak 16'
Ibarra 45'
Watson 46'
Walker 52'
Venegas  79'
Tobin  86'
SummarydeRoux  24'
Telesford  58'
Foley  68'
Edward  87'
Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 1,402
September 15, 2012 27 Puerto Rico Islanders 2–0 Minnesota Stars Bayamón, Puerto Rico
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Vázquez 21'
Foley 85'
SummaryTobin  36'
Nuñez  81'
Stadium: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Attendance: 3,331
September 23, 2012 28 San Antonio Scorpions 1–1 Minnesota Stars San Antonio
19:00 CDT (UTC−5)Campos 9'
Denissen  11'
Pitchkolan  52'
Cochrane  78'
Janicki  83'
SummaryVenegas  47'
Rodríguez  58'
Friedland 69'
Stadium: Heroes Stadium
Attendance: 7,996

NASL Playoffs

September 30, 2012 Quarterfinal Puerto Rico Islanders 1–2 Minnesota Stars Bayamón, Puerto Rico
17:00 CDT (UTC−5)Nurse  68'
Foley 79'
Hansen  81'
SummaryWalker 9'
Ibarra 40'
Davis  90'
Stadium: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Attendance: 2,002
Referee: Kevin Terry, Jr.
October 6, 2012 Semifinal 1st leg Minnesota Stars 0–0 San Antonio Scorpions Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Bracalello  21'SummaryHarmse  86'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 2,006
Referee: Marcos Deoliveira
October 14, 2012 Semifinal 2nd leg San Antonio Scorpions 1–2
(1–2 agg.)
Minnesota Stars San Antonio
17:15 CDT (UTC−5)Ramírez  17'
Campos 25'  27'
Harmse  54'
Soto  89'
SummaryAltman  27'
Hlavaty  66'
Wagner 77' (o.g.)
Bracalello 83'
Stadium: Heroes Stadium
Attendance: 6,249
Referee: Daniel Fitzgerald

Soccer Bowl

October 20, 2012 1st leg Minnesota Stars 2–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)Walker 67'
Takada  84'
Nuñez 90+4'
SummaryAmbersley  48'Stadium: National Sports Center
Attendance: 4,642
Referee: Kevin Terry, Jr.
October 26, 2012 2nd leg Tampa Bay Rowdies 3–1
(3–3 agg.)
(3–2 p)
Minnesota Stars St. Petersburg
18:30 CDT (UTC−5)Cort 25'  57'
Ambersley  26'
Savage 51'
Mulholland  82'
Antoniuk 86'  90+1'
Hill  90'
SummaryDavis  31'
Bracalello  45+1'
Rodríguez 52'
Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,208
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Penalties
Mulholland
Cox
Picault
Cort
Hlavaty
Del Do
Altman
Bracalello
Rodríguez

U.S. Open Cup

May 22, 2012 Second Round Des Moines Menace 0–2 Minnesota Stars West Des Moines
19:30 CDT (UTC−5)H.Jupic  27'
J.Lopez  73'
Moloto  79'
Report
Report
Bracalello 20'
Cristiano  40'
Kallman  52'
Ibarra 84'
Venegas  85'
Stadium: Valley Stadium
May 29, 2012 Third Round Real Salt Lake 1–3 Minnesota Stars Sandy City
21:00 CDT (UTC−5)Gil 29'
Velásquez  83'
Olave  85'
ReportVenegas 3'
Hlavaty 45' (pen.)
Bracalello 58'
Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 17,212
Referee: Tyler Ploeger
June 5, 2012 Fourth Round San Jose Earthquakes 1–0 Minnesota Stars Santa Clara
21:00 CDT (UTC−5)Beitashour  45'
Corrales  55'
Lenhart 85'
ReportAltman  42'
Davis  60'
Kallman  90+3'
Stadium: Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 1,548

Squad statistics

As of Match played October 26, 2012

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatPlayerTotalNASLNASL PlayoffsU.S. Open Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK  USAMitch Hildebrandt30300000
2DF  USAJustin Davis3212415030
3DF  BRACristiano21117+210020
4MF  USANeil Hlavaty32323+125031
5MF  BIHEdi Buro200+200000
6DF  USAKevin Friedland815+21000+10
7FW  USAFuad Ibrahim402+200000
8MF  USADaniel Wasson804+400000
9FW  URUMartin Nuñez28616+950+3100
10FW  ITASimone Bracalello31815+855132
11FW  JAMAmani Walker29916+57522+10
12MF  USAJamie Watson81315000
13MF  JPNKentaro Takada29222+222+3000
14DF  USABrian Kallman3202405030
15DF  USAEvan Sassano30300000
16DF  USAKyle Altman2512015000
17FW  BRAGeison Moura501+400000
19MF  USAShawn Chin501+400000
20DF  USAConnor Tobin1609+205000
21FW  USADevin Del Do1825+1120+2000
22MF  USAKevin Venegas23215+510031
23MF  USAMiguel Ibarra3152335131
24MF  USAMichael Reed706+100000
25FW  USANate Polak713+310+1000
26FW  USATravis Wall201+100000
28DF  CMRErnest Tchoupe1119+210000
30GK  USAMatt Van Oekel3302505030
32MF  USALucas Rodríguez20111+503+1100
77MF  USAAndy Lorei402+200000
Players who left NSC Minnesota Stars during the season:

Goal scorers

PlacePositionNationNumberNameNASLNASL PlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotal
1FW 11Amani Walker7209
2FW 10Simone Bracalello5128
3FW 9Martin Nuñez5106
4MF 23Miguel Ibarra3115
5MF 4Neil Hlavaty2013
6MF 13Kentaro Takada2002
FW 21Devin Del Do2002
MF 22Kevin Venegas1012
9DF 16Kyle Altman1001
DF 2Justin Davis1001
DF 28Ernest Tchoupe1001
DF 3Cristiano1001
FW 25Nate Polak1001
MF 12Jamie Watson1001
DF 6Kevin Friedland1001
MF 32Lucas Rodríguez0101
Own goal0101
TOTALS347546

Disciplinary record

NumberNationPositionNameNASLNASL PlayoffsU.S. Open CupTotal
2 DFJustin Davis70201030
3 DFCristiano10000101
4 MFNeil Hlavaty30100010
6 DFKevin Friedland10000010
7 FWFuad Ibrahim10000010
9 FWMartin Nuñez40000010
10 FWSimone Bracalello20200020
13 MFKentaro Takada40100010
14 DFBrian Kallman40001010
15 DFEvan Sassano10000010
16 DFKyle Altman21101020
20 DFConnor Tobin30000010
21 FWDevin Del Do10000010
22 MFKevin Venegas50001010
23 MFMiguel Ibarra01000001
28 DFErnest Tchoupe10000010
32 MFLucas Rodríguez10000010
TOTALS4127051533

References