Stars make playoffs, await foe

The Tacoma Stars have made the playoffs, even with just a .500 record of 4-4-2.

Who will they play?

Seattle or Wenatchee on the road, March 8th.

Right now the streaking Snohomish Skyhawks lead the pack. However, it is still possible for Wenatchee or Seattle to pass them.

However, with a match still to play either Seattle or Wenatchee will pass Snohomish for first place. So the Stars will not face the Skyhawks in the first round.

Seattle and Wenatchee have a match with each other to get to their total of 10 league matches. It comes this Saturday March 1st at Starfire. On February 24th Seattle and Wenatchee played to a thrilling 18-18 draw.

Snohomish has 19 points, Seattle has 18, Wenatchee has 17. If the Wolves and Fire tie in their March 1st match then Seattle wins the division and hosts the Stars on March 8th. If the Wolves win they'll host Tacoma. If Wenatchee wins they'll host the Stars and Seattle will travel to Snohomish.

Snohomish, Seattle, Wenatchee and Tacoma are all in the playoffs. It's now a matter of finishing out to determine seeding.

"SoccerPalooza 2008" April 26 in Tacoma Dome

It's a big event for youth soccer in the state of Washington, and you can get a preview of the April 26 event at www.SoccerPalooza.net.

The Tacoma Dome will be full of the latest new soccer gear, information and other stuff that players and fans can't miss out on.

Many vendors are scheduled to be on hand.

Tide offer FREE Scarves to Season Ticket Holders!

We can happily announce that in their third season the Tide will give a free gloriously yellow and blue TFC club scarf to each season ticket holder.

Hopefully there will also be some scarves for sale on line and at matches for collectors and fans who can't get the season package.

Season ticket links and other ticket details are now online on this page, on the left side.

The Tide have also put up a page for a fan club that allows you to submit your contact information and keep up with deals and news about the club.

In 2008 TFC will offer an upgraded ticket and viewing option: Field Seats. These seats will be right next to the action, at field level and closer even than the main stand. More details are sure to come.


Think about bringing your family and friends out to TFC matches this spring and summer. It's a great time in a nice stadium in a good neighborhood (University Place, Tacoma). There are good restaurants near by, and the soccer is fast, skilled and high-scoring.

Sparks (Puyallup) to get new turf

Good news for south sound soccer players and fans. Sparks stadium is set for a few long-overdue upgrades, including new turf. Report from the Tacoma News Tribune:

If all goes as planned, Puyallup students will be tackling running backs and diving for soccer balls on a safer, spongier surface at Sparks Stadium this fall.

The school district is soliciting bids to replace the stadium’s aging play field, track, scoreboard and sound system.

Officials estimate the project will cost about $1.6 million to $1.8 million, but the specific price will depend on the bids, which will be unsealed March 6, district athletics director Rick Wells said.

Nearby Puyallup High School uses Sparks for physical education classes. The facility also is home to Rogers, Emerald Ridge and Puyallup high school football, track and soccer teams, and Pacific Lutheran University’s football team. It’s also rented by organizations for community and sporting events.

Tacoma Stars host "Legends Night" this Friday

Memories from the 2007 Reunion Match.
Jenni Conner GOALTacoma.com photos.

The annual tradition of getting former Tacoma Stars players together for a reunion match has been amped up a bit for 2008.

This Friday February 22 at the Tacoma Soccer Center the Stars will host "NW Legends Night" and include soccer players from other clubs, too.

The match starts at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages 11-18, and free for kids 10 and under.

Scheduled to appear are the following players (along with current Stars rostered players):

Tim Bartro
Chris Henderson
Sean Henderson
Joey Waters
Neil Megson
Jason Farrell
Fran O'Brien
Rod Canda
Ralph Black
Tim Sedlacek
Daryl Green
Wade Webber
Darren Sawatzky
Bill Collello
Andy Schmetzer
Mark Berry
Matt Olson
Teddy Mitalis
John Purtteman

See a photo gallery from a previous Stars Reunion Match HERE.

Ralph Black can't believe he missed in last year's Stars Reunion Match.
Jenni Conner GOALTacoma.com photo.

Seattle catches up to the Stars

Leighton O'Brien (in white) is chased by Tacoma's Travis Pettibon.
See more photos from Jenni Conner here.

History repeated itself on February 16th inside the Tacoma Soccer Center, and it was a flashback the Tacoma Stars would rather forget. Leading 8-2 in the third quarter the Stars unraveled and eventually drew 10-10 with the Seattle Wolves. Tacoma had also blown a lead in Seattle on January 12th in a match they eventually lost that night 18-16.

Nate Ford did his best for the Stars with a hat trick, and the Stars goalkeeper (couldn't find his name) saved two penalty kicks. It wasn't enough for a much-needed Tacoma win. The Stars now need help to make the top four in the division and the playoffs.

Seattle's tying goal was a penalty retake.

The first pk was saved, but a retake was ordered as Stars players were said to have moved during the try. The retake was good, drawing the match level 10-10.

At the death Seattle was denied a victory when the ball came free in the Tacoma area, only to be smothered by the Stars 'keeper as time expired.

Seattle is now 5-2-1 on the season with 17 points and remains in first place. Tacoma is 3-2-3 with 11 points and temporarily moves into 4th place pending the outcome of today's Wenatchee-Bellingham match in Wenatchee.

Around 200 fans attended the PASL Northwest Division contest.

PASL Website
GOALTacoma.com photos from the match

Tacoma FC to host Seattle Sounders again in 2008!

Jenni Conner 2007 www.GOALTacoma.com

The Tacoma Tide and Seattle Sounders have found room on their schedules to continue their I-5 rivalry in 2008.

(Photo gallery links embeded below.)

The clubs will play on Tuesday July 8th at 7:05 PM at Curtis High School in University Place, Tacoma. In 2007 at that same venue the Tide surprised the Sounders by jumping out to a 2-0 halftime lead before Seattle rallied for a 2-2 draw. TFC went undefeated at home last year.

The clubs have just that one 'regulation' match in their history, but have also played two "Kids Day" affairs. Those matches were broken down in to 3 30-minute periods with breaks between for Kids Day events. In 2006 the Sounders edged Tacoma 2-1 at Qwest Field on Kids Day. In 2007 Seattle bumped the Tide 3-0 on Kids Day.

Below is a video from the 2-2 draw in 2007.


Highlights of game against the Sounders

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MORE Tide slide shows

It's been a fun January going back through Jenni's photos and making slide shows to promote the Tide.

Below you'll see two more. The top is a new 'commercial' we'll eventually post on the front of www.GOALTacoma.com.

The second is a slide show from last year's 2-2 draw with the Seattle Sounders.

Yes, I used the same song for both.