Arizona Sahuaros
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| Full name | Arizona Sahuaros | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Sahuaros | ||
| Founded | 1989 | ||
| Stadium | Grand Canyon University Soccer Complex Phoenix, Arizona (capacity: 10,000) |
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| Chairman | Petar Draksin | ||
| Manager | Orhan Kraja | ||
| League | National Premier Soccer League | ||
| 2011 | Expansion | ||
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Arizona Sahuaros is an American soccer team based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. The team is currently on hiatus from the NPSL due to a lack of teams in the Southwest Division, but is due to return to NPSL competition in 2011.
The team plays its home games at the soccer complex on the campus of Grand Canyon University. The team's colors are gold and navy blue.
History
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This section requires expansion. (December 2009) |
The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league. They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989-1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows. Heat coach Peter Baralić was named Coach of the Year.[1] They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL, before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. In 1992, they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season, losing to the Atlanta Magic. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year.[2] In 1996, the team became the Arizona Phoenix. In 1997, they changed their name again, this time to Arizona Sahuaros, and moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 1998, Suharoes coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year.[3] After the 2002 season, the left the USL D-3 Pro League and helped form the new Men's Premier Soccer League, finishing the season as champions in the first year. The Sahuarhos competed in the NPSL until 2004, after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008.
Players
Current roster
As of 20 May 2012 [4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
Roger Espinoza
Nick DeLeon- Scott Maxwell
- Justin Meram
- Greg Veatch
- Erick Begazo
Year-by-year
Outdoor team
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | SISL | 3rd, Western | Quarterfinals | Did not enter | |
| 1991 | SISL | 5th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not enter | |
| 1992 | USISL | 4th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not enter | |
| 1993 | USISL | 7th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not enter | |
| 1994 | 3 | USISL | 5th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1995 | 4 | USISL Premier League | 6th, Western | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | 4 | USISL Premier League | 3rd, Western Southern | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 6th, West | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 1st, West | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round |
| 1999 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, Western | Conference Semifinals | 2nd Round |
| 2000 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 6th, Western | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 4th, Western | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 3 | USL D-3 Pro League | 3rd, Western | 1st Round | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | 4 | MPSL | 3rd | Champion | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | 4 | MPSL | 3rd | Runner-Up | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | / | / | on hiatus | / | / |
| 2006 | 5 | USASA | stats not available | 2nd Round | |
| 2007 | 5 | USASA | stats not available | Did not qualify | |
| 2008 | 4 | NPSL | 2nd, Southwest | Did not qualify | 1st Round |
| 2009 | 5 | USASA | stats not available | 1st Round | |
| 2010 | 5 | USASA | stats not available | 2nd Round | |
| 2011 | 4 | NPSL | on hiatus | / | / |
Indoor team
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989/90 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 1st, Cactus | Final | N/A |
| 1990/91 | N/A | SISL Indoor | 4th, Southwest | Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1991/92 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 4th, Southwest | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1992/93 | N/A | USISL Indoor | 2nd, Southwest | Final | N/A |
Honors
- MPSL Champions 2003
- USL D-3 Pro League West Division Champions 1998
- SISL Cactus Division Champions 1989/90 (Indoor)
Head coaches
- Peter Baralić (1989-1991)
- Cole Antonijevic (1992)
- Zelimar Antonijevic (1993-1995)
- Dave Murray (1996)
- Walter Brusic (1996-1998)
- Matt Kozul (1998-1999)
Manny Arias (1999-2001)
- Petar Draksin (2000-2009)
Orhan Kraja (2010–present)
Stadia
- Stadium at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona (1989–present)
The Sahuaros are currently securing funds to build one of the first soccer-specific stadiums in the USASA. It would seat 7,500 spectators and come complete with luxury boxes, restaurants, training facilities, and office headquarters for the team.
References
- ^ The Year in American Soccer - 1990
- ^ The Year in American Soccer - 1993
- ^ The Year in American Soccer - 1998
- ^ "Rosa Stagione". Arizona Sahuaros. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
External links
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