FC Tucson
 | |||
| Full name | FC Tucson | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Desert Ninjas | ||
| Founded | 2010 | ||
| Stadium |
Kino Sports Complex North Stadium[1] | ||
| Capacity | 2,360 | ||
| Managing Partner |
 Greg Foster | ||
| Head Coach |
Rick Schantz | ||
| League | USL Premier Development League | ||
| 2013 |
5th, Southwest Division Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| |||
 Current season | |||
FC Tucson is an American semi-professional soccer club based in Tucson, Arizona playing in the USL Premier Development League (PDL). Organized in 2010, Tucson first took the field in March 2011. The team has competed in Southwest division of the PDL Western Conference since 2012.[2]
Coached by former Tucson Amigos player Rick Schantz, Tucson plays home games at the 2,360-seat Kino Sports Complex North Stadium constructed in 2013.[1][3][4]
History
Beginnings
FC Tucson was founded in 2010 to bring preseason Major League Soccer events to Tucson and generate interest in a new soccer club.[2] The organization first fielded a team on March 4, 2011 against the New York Red Bulls reserves in the 2011 Desert Cup, a 1–3 loss.[5] The club's first goal was scored by former Pima Community College and Salpointe Catholic High School player Fernando Gauna after entering the match as a substitute. Later in 2011 Tucson competed against various teams from the region in a loosely organized exhibition league.[6][7] Their first match following the Desert Cup took place on May 13, a 7–2 victory over Yavapai FC.[8]
PDL debut
On December 15, 2011, FC Tucson announced its move to the PDL.[9] The 2012 team placed second in the Western Conference Southwest Division with a record of 9 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties, riding a ten-game unbeaten streak (7 wins, 3 ties) from May 12 until June 30th.[10] Tucson lost 2–1 to Seattle Sounders FC U-23 in the Western Conference Semi-Finals.[11] Defender Conor Spence was named to the 2012 All-Western Conference Team.[12][13] In 2013 Tucson did not qualify for the postseason, finishing fifth in the Southwest with 5 Wins, 5 Losses and 4 Ties.[14]
US Open Cup success
In May 2013 FC Tucson notched back-to-back victories over professional clubs to reach the third round of the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, the deepest Open Cup run of any Arizona club in history. In the tournament's first round Tucson defeated Phoenix FC of the USL Pro 2–1 on an injury-time game winner scored by Connor Bevans.[15][16][17][18] Next they defeated the San Antonio Scorpions of the NASL in a 4–3 penalty shoot-out to break a 2–2 tie.[19][20][21][22][23] The run ended in Houston where they fell 2–0 to the MLS Dynamo.[24][25][26] As the first ever PDL club to defeat professional clubs in back-to-back matches, Tucson won the full $15,000 prize awarded to the PDL club with the best Open Cup finish. (Three other PDL teams also reached the third round.)[27][28][29]
Badge
FC Tucson's badge was designed by Erik von Weber of Headwerk, a design co. Instead of the traditional shield, the badge is shaped like an arrowhead in homage to the Tucson valley's pre-Columbian history.[30] The badge was simplified in 2013 with the removal of five diamonds which arched above the crest to represent the major mountain ranges of the Tucson valley but had been confused with stars, typically used in football badges to represent titles won.[31]
Stadium
Kino Sports Complex North Field #5 (2012–2013)
Field #5 was one of five Major League Baseball spring-training practice fields converted for soccer prior to Tucson's first PDL season. In 2012 seating was initially limited to an 850-seat grandstand on the west sideline. Additional bleacher seats were later added behind the north goal.[1]
Kino Sports Complex North Stadium (2014–)
Kino North Stadium was dedicated on October 30, 2013.[32][33] The stadium seats 2,360 with 1,700 in a partially covered grandstand on the west sideline.[4] The North Stadium is part of a larger package of soccer facilities improvements to the Kino Sports Complex authorized by Pima County's Board of Supervisors in April 2012.[34] FC Tucson defeated MLS Chivas USA 1-0 on November 15, 2013 in the first game held at the stadium.[3][35]
Club culture
Members of the local American Outlaws chapter organized an FC Tucson fan group called the Cactus Pricks after FC Tucson's 2011 Desert Cup appearance.[36]
Record
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Southwest | Conference Semi-Finals | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Southwest | Did not qualify | Third Round |
| 2014 | 4 | USL PDL | Mountain Division | TBD | TBD |
Players and staff
Current roster
As of June 14, 2013[37][38][39]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Current staff
- Greg Foster - Managing Partner
- Rick Schantz - Managing Partner & Head Coach
- Jonathan Pearlman - Managing Partner & Technical Director
- Chris Keeney - Managing Partner & CBO
- Kate Norton - Assistant General Manager and Director of Operations
- Brian Murray - Team Administrator
-
Henry Brauner - Assistant Coach - Jeff Rogers - Assistant Coach
- Joe Caito - Corporate Sponsorship Liaison
- Kevin Brady - Box Office Manager
Notable former players
- Reid Schmitt
- Conor Spence
- Donny Toia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Vitu, Teya (June 1, 2013). "A Bright Future for Soccer in Tucson". Zocalo Magazine.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Garcia, José E. (May 5, 2012). "Tucson's soccer venture kicks off with FC Tucson". The Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ). Retrieved January 29, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ord, David (November 16, 2013). "FC Tucson opens stadium with win over MLS team". Arizona Daily Star.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "2013 FC Tucson Fall Showcase Announced". fctucson.com (FC Tucson). October 30, 2013.
- ↑ "Red Bulls ease past FC Tucson, 3-1 in 2011 Desert Cup match". New York Red Bulls. March 5, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/042511_fc_tucson_schedule/fc-tucson-releases-schedule/
- ↑ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/051911_fc_tucson/fc-tucson-discover-joys-playing-new-league/
- ↑ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/051411_fc_tucson/tucsonenses-trounce-yavapai/
- ↑ "FC Tucson Joins USL PDL". pdl.uslsoccer.com (United Soccer Leagues). December 15, 2011.
- ↑ "FC Tucson Full Schedule 2012". uslsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues.
- ↑ "FC Tucson at Sounders FC U23 1–2". pdl.uslsoccer.com (United Soccer Leagues). July 21, 2012.
- ↑ "PDL All-Conference Teams Announced". pdl.uslsoccer.com (United Soccer Leagues). July 30, 2012.
- ↑ "Spence Named to All-Conference Team". fctucson.com (FC Tucson). July 30, 2012.
- ↑ Ord, Dave (July 28, 2013). "FC Tucson: Soccer club revels in a season of firsts, with more to come". Arizona Daily Star.
- ↑ "2013 US Open Cup First Round: FC Tucson rallies past USL Pro Phoenix in final seven minutes for upset". TheCup.us. May 15, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Tucson Grabs Late Winner: Upsets Phoenix FC with 2-1 victory in Open Cup". United Soccer Leagues (USL). May 14, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ "Match Report – FC Tucson V. Phoenix FC Wolves". AZKicksIt.com. May 14, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Ord, Dave (May 15, 2011). "FC Tucson 2, Phoenix FC 1: Hero scores twice for grandma". Arizona Daily Star.
- ↑ "Tucson Grabs Victory In Shootout, Defeats San Antonio to advance to third round of Open Cup". United Soccer Leagues (USL). May 21, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Ord, Dave (May 21, 2011). "FC Tucson defeats San Antonio in penalty kicks, advances in US Open Cup". Arizona Daily Star.
- ↑ Bosch, H. Jose (May 21, 2013). "The Run Continues". fctucson.com. FC Tucson.
- ↑ Hockman, Chris (May 22, 2013). "2013 US Open Cup Second Round: FC Tucson Ousts Another Pro Club with PK Win at San-Antonio". TheCup.us. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Prezelski, Ted (May 21, 2011). "FC Tucson has Scorpions for Breakfast in 2OT PK Win". Tucson Sentinel.
- ↑ Bosch, H. Jose. "Houston 2-0 FC Tucson". fctucson.com (FC Tucson).
- ↑ "Game Report: Houston vs Tucson". mlssoccer.com. May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ "2013 US Open Cup Third Round: Houston Dynamo end FC Tucson run with 2-0 win". TheCup.us. May 30, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ "FC Tucson Ends Historic Run". AZKicksIt.com. May 29, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ↑ Ord, Dave (May 29, 2011). "Houston Dynamo ends FC Tucson's run in U.S. Open Cup". Arizona Daily Star.
- ↑ "Tucson's Historic Run Ends". uslsoccer.com. United Soccer Leagues. May 29, 2013.
- ↑ Prezelski, Ted (June 10, 2011). "Yavapai looking for better result against FC Tucson". TucsonSentinel.com.
- ↑ Prezelski, Ted (May 23, 2013). "Post Game Cigarette". www.mindingthe.net.
- ↑ Join Our Groundbreaking!
- ↑ ‘This is your house and we’re going to protect it’
- ↑ FC Tucson Finds Home At Kino Sports Complex
- ↑ FC Tucson 1-0 Chivas USA
- ↑ "The Cactus Pricks—About". cactuspricks.com.
- ↑ http://www.fctucson.com/roster.php
- ↑ First Players Signed for 2013
- ↑ FC Tucson Signs Six More Players
External links
| |||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
