2011–12 Illinois Piasa season

The 2011–12 Illinois Piasa season was the sixth season of the Illinois Piasa indoor soccer club and second as a franchise in the Professional Arena Soccer League. The Piasa, named for the Piasa Bird of Native American legend, were an Eastern Division team who played this season's home games at The Sports Academy in Glen Carbon, Illinois. The team was led by co-head coaches Joe Reiniger and Justin McMillian.

Illinois Piasa
2011–12 season
OwnerJim Williams
Head CoachJoe Reiniger and Justin McMillian
ArenaThe Sports Academy
Glen Carbon, Illinois[1]

Off-field moves

In September 2011, the Piasa signed a multi-year deal to make The Sports Academy the team's new home arena.[2] That same month, the team hired both Joe Reiniger and Justin McMillian to serve as co-head coaches for the 2011–12 season.[3] Reiniger played professionally for the St. Louis Ambush, Milwaukee Wave, and St. Louis Steamers, and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 National Professional Soccer League Championship. McMillian's playing career included stops with the Indiana Blast, St. Louis Steamers, and St. Louis Illusion.[3]

The team also announced that player Elvir Kafedžić would serve as assistant coach. Both he and co-head coach Justin McMillian remained on the active roster.[3]

Before the team's final home game of the regular season on February 11, 2012, the Piasa honored St. Louis soccer legend Dragan "Don" Popović with a halftime ceremony.[4] A native of Yugoslavia, Popović made his American professional debut with the St. Louis Stars in 1967. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004 and member of the inaugural class by the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in October 2011.[5]

Roster moves

Illinois Piasa conducted two open tryouts for new players in September 2011. The tryouts were held on their home turf at The Sports Academy in Glen Carbon, Illinois.[6]

Schedule

  Win   Tie   Loss

Regular season
Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[7] Attendance
Final Score Team Record
1 Saturday November 5 7:35pm Kansas Magic[8] L 9–11 0–1 The Sports Academy[9] 658[10]
2 Saturday November 12 7:35pm at Kansas Magic L 3–4 0–2 EPIC Indoor Sports Center 412[11]
3 Saturday November 19 7:35pm Detroit Waza L 3–4 0–3 The Sports Academy 235[12]
4 Saturday November 26 7:35pm
(6:35pm Central)		 at Cincinnati Kings L 4–10 0–4 Cincinnati Gardens 793[13]
5 Friday December 2 7:35pm Louisville Lightning W 13–9 1–4 The Sports Academy[14] 307[15]
6 Saturday December 10 7:35pm Kansas Magic L 6–7 1–5 The Sports Academy[16] 256[17]
7 Friday December 16 8:00pm
(7:00pm Central)		 at Ohio Vortex W 8–3 2–5 Canton Memorial Civic Center 267[18]
8 Saturday December 17 7:00pm
(6:00pm Central)		 at Ohio Vortex W 9–5 3–5 Canton Memorial Civic Center 137[19]
9 Saturday January 7 7:30pm
(6:30pm Central)		 at Louisville Lightning L 5–15[20] 3–6 Mockingbird Valley Soccer Complex 1106[21]
10 Sunday January 8 2:35pm
(1:35pm Central)		 at Detroit Waza L 3–12 3–7 Taylor Sportsplex 451[22]
11 Saturday January 14 7:35pm Cincinnati Kings W 9–8 4–7 The Sports Academy[23] 280[24]
12 Friday January 20 7:30pm
(6:30pm Central)		 at Louisville Lightning L 4–7 4–8 Mockingbird Valley Soccer Complex 792[25]
13 Saturday January 21 7:35pm Cincinnati Kings W 6–4 5–8 The Sports Academy 402[26]
14 Friday January 27 7:35pm Ohio Vortex W 12–3 6–8 The Sports Academy 413[27]
15 Friday February 10 8:05pm at Kansas Magic L 2–8 6–9 EPIC Indoor Sports Center 79[28]
16 Saturday February 11 7:35pm Detroit Waza L 5–6 6–10 The Sports Academy[4] 605[29]

Post-season
Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location[7] Attendance
Final Score Team Record
Div Saturday March 3 7:30pm
(6:30pm Central)		 at Detroit Waza L 6–7 (OT) 0–1 Taylor Sportsplex 717[30]

References
  1. Merkel, Jim (January 5, 2012). "Indoor soccer team comes to Pontoon Beach". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  2. "Piasa Head Into Season With New Owner, Home Arena". Professional Arena Soccer League. September 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  3. "Piasa Announce Coaches For Upcoming Season". Our Sports Central. September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  4. Staff Report (February 7, 2012). "Piasa to honor Popovic before final home game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  5. Nusinov, Sydney (October 4, 2011). "Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Class". Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  6. "Illinois Piasa Presents Open Tryouts September 20 and 22". Our Sports Central. September 15, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  7. "Illinois Piasa Schedule". Pointstreak. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  8. "Illinois Piasa begins season tonight". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 2, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  9. Hensley, Cathy (November 9, 2011). "Illinois Piasa pro team provides soccer youth with another goal". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  10. "Box Score: Nov 05, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 5, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  11. "Box Score: Nov 12, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 12, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  12. "Box Score: Nov 19, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 19, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  13. "Box Score: Nov 26, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. November 26, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  14. Staff Report (November 28, 2011). "Club teams sought for matches during Piasa games". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  15. "Box Score: Dec 02, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 2, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  16. Hensley, Cathy (December 7, 2011). "Our holiday shopping guide for the soccer enthusiast". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  17. "Box Score: Dec 10, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 10, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  18. "Box Score: Dec 16, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 16, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  19. "Box Score: Dec 17, 2011". Professional Arena Soccer League. December 17, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  20. Staff (January 8, 2012). "Lightning fire up in 2nd half, 15-5; Murray, Shipalane score three each in PASL game". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  21. "Box Score: Jan 07, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 7, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  22. "Box Score: Jan 08, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 8, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  23. Staff Report (January 17, 2012). "Piasa makes playoff push with upcoming game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  24. "Box Score: Jan 14, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 14, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  25. "Box Score: Jan 20, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 20, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  26. "Box Score: Jan 21, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 21, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  27. "Box Score: Jan 27, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. January 27, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  28. "Box Score: Feb 10, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 10, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  29. "Box Score: Feb 11, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. February 11, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  30. "Box Score: Mar 03, 2012". Professional Arena Soccer League. March 3, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
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