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)

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. Name Nationality Position Date of birth (Age) Signed from Signed in Contract ends Apps. Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Mitch Hildebrandt United States GK (1988-11-12)12 November 1988 (aged 23) Oakland Golden Grizzlies 2012 3 0
30 Matt Van Oekel United States GK (1986-09-20)20 September 1986 (aged 26) Minnesota Thunder 2010 41 0
Defenders
2 Justin Davis United States DF (1988-05-06)6 May 1988 (aged 24) New Mexico Lobos 2011 60 2
3 Cristiano Brazil DF (1986-05-25)25 May 1986 (aged 26) Miami 2011 44 1
5 Edi Buro Bosnia and Herzegovina DF (1987-09-19)19 September 1987 (aged 25) Bosnia and Herzegovina Travnik 2012
6 Kevin Friedland United States DF (1981-10-03)3 October 1981 (aged 31) Kansas City Wizards 2004 33 1
14 Brian Kallman United States DF (1984-04-23)23 April 1984 (aged 28) Minnesota Thunder 2010 64 1
15 Evan Sassano United States DF (1987-11-22)22 November 1987 (aged 24) 2012
16 Kyle Altman United States DF (1986-01-31)31 January 1986 (aged 26) Minnesota Thunder 2010
20 Connor Tobin United States DF (1987-02-11)11 February 1987 (aged 25) Rochester Rhinos 2012
28 Ernest Tchoupe Cameroon DF (1987-12-23)23 December 1987 (aged 24) Colombia Expreso Rojo 2012
Midfielders
4 Neil Hlavaty United States MF (1986-12-27)27 December 1986 (aged 25) Poland Jagiellonia Białystok 2010 85 13
8 Daniel Wasson United States MF (1984-06-15)15 June 1984 (aged 28) Germany VfL Osnabrück 2010
13 Kentaro Takada Japan MF (1983-04-13)13 April 1983 (aged 29) Rochester Thunder 2010
19 Shawn Chin United States MF (1989-05-11)11 May 1989 (aged 23) Canada Edmonton 2012
22 Kevin Venegas United States MF (1989-07-29)29 July 1989 (aged 23) Fullerton Titans 2010 23 2
23 Miguel Ibarra United States MF (1990-03-15)15 March 1990 (aged 22) UC Irvine Anteaters 2012 31 5
24 Michael Reed United States MF (1987-10-28)28 October 1987 (aged 24) PSC Soccer Academy 2012
32 Lucas Rodríguez Argentina MF (1986-02-08)8 February 1986 (aged 26) Kansas City Brass 2010
77 Andy Lorei United States MF (1989-03-25)25 March 1989 (aged 23) Real Maryland 2011
Forwards
7 Fuad Ibrahim Ethiopia FW (1991-08-15)15 August 1991 (aged 21) 2012
9 Martin Nuñez Uruguay FW (1987-02-02)2 February 1987 (aged 25) Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2012
10 Simone Bracalello Italy FW (1985-10-21)21 October 1985 (aged 27) 2010 83 20
11 Amani Walker Jamaica FW (1989-12-16)16 December 1989 (aged 22) Orange County Blue Star 2011 48 10
17 Geison Moura Brazil MF (1986-07-16)16 July 1986 (aged 26) Rockford Rampage 2010
21 Devin Del Do United States FW (1986-05-21)21 May 1986 (aged 26) 2010
26 Travis Wall United States FW (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 22) Columbus Crew 2012
Players away on loan
Players who left during the season

Transfers

Winter

Summer

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 United States 2–0 Canada Edmonton Minneapolis
13:00 CDT (UTC−5) Report Stadium: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

Competitions

NASL
Main article: 2012 North American Soccer League season

Standings
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
4 Carolina RailHawks 28 10 10 8 44 46 −2 40 Playoff quarterfinals
5 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 28 9 9 10 40 46 −6 36
6 Minnesota United 28 8 11 9 34 33 +1 35
7 Atlanta Silverbacks 28 7 9 12 35 46 −11 30
8 FC Edmonton 28 5 10 13 26 36 −10 25
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 Yellow card 73' Summary Nurse Yellow card 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 Yellow card 83' Summary Takada Yellow card 52'
Friedland Yellow card 72'
Del Do Yellow card 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 Red card 7'
Hamilton 52'
Porter 63'
Rago Yellow card 84'		 Summary Hlavaty 8' (pen.)
Altman 16'Red card 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' Yellow card 81'
Santamaria 79'		 Summary Walker 66'
Del Do 88'
Davis 90' Yellow card 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'Yellow card 40'
Takada Yellow card 42'
Davis Yellow card 59'
Ibarra 76'		 Summary Robertson Yellow card 33'
Lancaster Yellow card 52'
Carr Yellow card 59' Red card 88'
Cox Yellow card 70'
McManus Yellow card 70' Yellow-red card 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'		 Summary Agbossoumonde Yellow card 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 Yellow card 38'
Restrepo Yellow card 57'		 Summary Walker 45'
Ibarra 63'
Kallman Yellow card 72'
Davis Yellow card 80'
Bracalello 83'
Hlavaty Yellow card 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 Yellow card 69' Summary Stadium: 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) Summary Ibrahim Yellow card 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 Yellow card 25'
Zimmerman 41'
Shriver 53'
Schilawski 61'
Garey 90+4'		 Summary Bracalello 45+2'
Altman Yellow card 82'
Hlavaty Yellow card 82'
Davis Yellow card 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'Yellow card 25'
Kallman Yellow card 90+1'		 Summary Yoshitake 45+1'
Hill Yellow card 45+1'
Savage 85'
Ambersley Yellow card 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 Yellow card 24'
Bracalello 39'
Nuñez Yellow card 69'		 Summary Otte Yellow card 5'
Herron Yellow card 15'
Ståhl Yellow card 16'
Anderson 26'
Lorenz Yellow card 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'		 Summary Stadium: 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 Yellow card 15'
Nuñez 18', 55'
Bracalello 45'
Walker 81'		 Report vanSchaik Yellow card 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 Yellow card 35' Report Horth 10'
Duran Yellow card 43'
McManus Yellow card 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 Yellow card 37'
Takada 44'
Venegas Yellow card 64'		 Report Ambersley 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 Yellow card 38' 64'
Nuñez Yellow card 70'		 Report Stewart Yellow card 29'
Anderson 34', 42'
King Yellow card 40'
Herron Yellow card 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 Yellow card 60'
Low Yellow card 72' Yellow-red card 77'		 Report E.Sassano Yellow card 69'
Bracalello Yellow card 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 Yellow card 39'
Delgado 49' Yellow card 67'
Telesford Yellow card 67'
Nurse Yellow card 76'
Faña Yellow card 81'		 Report Davis Yellow card 86'
Ibarra Red card 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 Yellow card 20'
Cox 88'
Hamilton Red card 90'		 Report Nuñez 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 Yellow card 88'
Nuñez Yellow card 90+1'		 Report Wagner Yellow card 26'
Denissen 71' (pen.)
Campos Yellow card 77'
Knight Yellow card 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 Yellow card 61' Yellow-red card 61' Summary Altman Yellow card 23'
Davis Yellow card 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 Yellow card 40'
Venegas Yellow card 44'		 Summary Hamilton Yellow card 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 Yellow card 45'
Kallman Yellow card 63'		 Summary Pitchkolan Yellow card 15'
Janicki Yellow card 60'
Denissen 69' Yellow card 73'
Harmse Yellow card 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' Summary Cox Yellow card 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 Yellow card 79'
Tobin Yellow card 86'		 Summary deRoux Yellow card 24'
Telesford Yellow card 58'
Foley Yellow card 68'
Edward Yellow card 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'		 Summary Tobin Yellow card 36'
Nuñez Yellow card 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 Yellow card 11'
Pitchkolan Yellow card 52'
Cochrane Yellow card 78'
Janicki Yellow card 83'		 Summary Venegas Yellow card 47'
Rodríguez Yellow card 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 Yellow card 68'
Foley 79'
Hansen Yellow card 81'		 Summary Walker 9'
Ibarra 40'
Davis Yellow card 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 Yellow card 21' Summary Harmse Yellow card 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 Yellow card 17'
Campos 25'Red card 27'
Harmse Yellow card 54'
Soto Yellow card 89'		 Summary Altman Yellow card 27'
Hlavaty Yellow card 66'
Wagner 77' (o.g.)
Bracalello 83'		 Stadium: Heroes Stadium
Attendance: 6,249
Referee: Daniel Fitzgerald

Soccer Bowl
Main article: Soccer Bowl 2012
October 20, 2012 1st leg Minnesota Stars 2–0 Tampa Bay Rowdies Blaine
19:30 CDT (UTC−5) Walker 67'
Takada Yellow card 84'
Nuñez 90+4'		 Summary Ambersley Yellow card 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'Yellow card 57'
Ambersley Yellow card 26'
Savage 51'
Mulholland Yellow card 82'
Antoniuk 86'Yellow card 90+1'
Hill Red card 90'		 Summary Davis Yellow card 31'
Bracalello Yellow card 45+1'
Rodríguez 52'		 Stadium: Al Lang Stadium
Attendance: 6,208
Referee: Alejandro Mariscal
Penalties
Mulholland soccer ball with check mark
Cox soccer ball with check mark
Picault soccer ball with check mark
Cort soccer ball with red X		 soccer ball with check mark Hlavaty
soccer ball with red X Del Do
soccer ball with red X Altman
soccer ball with check mark Bracalello
soccer ball with red X Rodríguez

U.S. Open Cup
Main article: 2012 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 Yellow card 27'
J.Lopez Yellow card 73'
Moloto Yellow card 79'		 Report
Report		 Bracalello 20'
Cristiano Red card 40'
Kallman Yellow card 52'
Ibarra 84'
Venegas Yellow card 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 Yellow card 83'
Olave Yellow card 85'		 Report Venegas 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 Yellow card 45'
Corrales Yellow card 55'
Lenhart 85'		 Report Altman Yellow card 42'
Davis Yellow card 60'
Kallman Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Buck Shaw Stadium
Attendance: 1,548

Squad statistics
As of Match played October 26, 2012

Appearances and goals
No. Pos Nat Player TotalNASLNASL PlayoffsU.S. Open Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1 GK United States USA Mitch Hildebrandt 30300000
2 DF United States USA Justin Davis 3212415030
3 DF Brazil BRA Cristiano 21117+210020
4 MF United States USA Neil Hlavaty 32323+125031
5 MF Bosnia and Herzegovina BIH Edi Buro 200+200000
6 DF United States USA Kevin Friedland 815+21000+10
7 FW United States USA Fuad Ibrahim 402+200000
8 MF United States USA Daniel Wasson 804+400000
9 FW Uruguay URU Martin Nuñez 28616+950+3100
10 FW Italy ITA Simone Bracalello 31815+855132
11 FW Jamaica JAM Amani Walker 29916+57522+10
12 MF United States USA Jamie Watson 81315000
13 MF Japan JPN Kentaro Takada 29222+222+3000
14 DF United States USA Brian Kallman 3202405030
15 DF United States USA Evan Sassano 30300000
16 DF United States USA Kyle Altman 2512015000
17 FW Brazil BRA Geison Moura 501+400000
19 MF United States USA Shawn Chin 501+400000
20 DF United States USA Connor Tobin 1609+205000
21 FW United States USA Devin Del Do 1825+1120+2000
22 MF United States USA Kevin Venegas 23215+510031
23 MF United States USA Miguel Ibarra 3152335131
24 MF United States USA Michael Reed 706+100000
25 FW United States USA Nate Polak 713+310+1000
26 FW United States USA Travis Wall 201+100000
28 DF Cameroon CMR Ernest Tchoupe 1119+210000
30 GK United States USA Matt Van Oekel 3302505030
32 MF United States USA Lucas Rodríguez 20111+503+1100
77 MF United States USA Andy Lorei 402+200000
Players who left NSC Minnesota Stars during the season:

Goal scorers
Place Position Nation Number Name NASL NASL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total
1FWJamaica11Amani Walker7209
2FWItaly10Simone Bracalello5128
3FWUruguay9Martin Nuñez5106
4MFUnited States23Miguel Ibarra3115
5MFUnited States4Neil Hlavaty2013
6MFJapan13Kentaro Takada2002
FWUnited States21Devin Del Do2002
MFUnited States22Kevin Venegas1012
9DFUnited States16Kyle Altman1001
DFUnited States2Justin Davis1001
DFCameroon28Ernest Tchoupe1001
DFBrazil3Cristiano1001
FWUnited States25Nate Polak1001
MFUnited States12Jamie Watson1001
DFUnited States6Kevin Friedland1001
MFArgentina32Lucas Rodríguez0101
Own goal0101
TOTALS 347546

Disciplinary record
Number Nation Position Name NASL NASL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
2United StatesDFJustin Davis70201030
3BrazilDFCristiano10000101
4United StatesMFNeil Hlavaty30100010
6United StatesDFKevin Friedland10000010
7United StatesFWFuad Ibrahim10000010
9UruguayFWMartin Nuñez40000010
10ItalyFWSimone Bracalello20200020
13JapanMFKentaro Takada40100010
14United StatesDFBrian Kallman40001010
15United StatesDFEvan Sassano10000010
16United StatesDFKyle Altman21101020
20United StatesDFConnor Tobin30000010
21United StatesFWDevin Del Do10000010
22United StatesMFKevin Venegas50001010
23United StatesMFMiguel Ibarra01000001
28CameroonDFErnest Tchoupe10000010
32ArgentinaMFLucas Rodríguez10000010
TOTALS 41 2 7 0 5 1 53 3

References
  1. Stars introduce new ownership group
  2. "Michael Reed – Signed with Minnesota Stars (NASL)". pscsocceracademy.net. PSC Soccer Academy. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
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