NSC Minnesota Stars Officially Open Preseason Camp on Thursday
We’ve all been waiting anxiously and the moment has finally arrived. The NSC Minnesota Stars soccer team will kick off their preseason camp on Thursday morning at 8:00 am at the National Sports Center Sports Hall.
According to Lagos, the team will begin arriving on Wednesday settling into the dormitories at the National Sports Center. They will begin with two-a-day’s starting Thursday with the second session at 1:30 pm.
The team will practice Monday through Friday at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with inter-squad scrimmages on March 24 and March 31. All practices are open to the public.
*The team kicks off their exhibition matches this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota.
*On March 27, the Stars will play the Marquette University Golden Eagles at 3 p.m. at Parade Stadium in Minneapolis. Admission to both games is free.
*On Sunday, April 4 (Easter Sunday), the team will travel to Omaha for two back-to-back exhibition matches against Creighton University and fellow North American Soccer League side AC St. Louis at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium. Details including game times and ticket information are yet to be determined.
“I’m really looking forward to preseason. Living and training on-site will create a unique camp experience,” said Lagos.
Lagos told IMS on Tuesday morning that he hopes to have 3 to 4 more experienced players signed shortly. He said he would like to start camp with 15 signed players and has invited another dozen or so to camp as trialists.
IMS has learned that former Rochester Thunder midfielder Kentaro Takato is one of those invited. Takato was called up for last year’s Thunder friendly between C.S.D. Comunicaciones and showed well for the team, almost scoring twice and seeing lots of the ball at midfield. Takato also tried out for the Thunder last season and was one of the last players to be released. The Japanese native also attended this year’s NSC Stars combine.
IMS is currently putting together a list of those who have been invited to camp and will get that posted as soon as possible.
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The National Sports Center has also taken on a new Media intern for the NSC Stars. His name is Alex Haueter and he will be joining NSC Media Relations spokesman Barclay Kruse and video producer Jake Frantzen as part of the Stars media team. Haueter will be specifically assigned to working with the Stars and according to Kruse he is a “soccer guy” and really knows the game. This is not Haueter’s first opportunity to work with a pro soccer team. He also spent time interning with the Kansas City Wizards. Kruse said the former University of Nebraska graduate comes highly recommended. Haueter jumped right into things writing today’s press releases for the new Minnesota signings.
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April 4th is a Sunday, is that correct for the double header in Omaha?
Not only is it Sunday, it’s Easter Sunday. I have a feeling that is supposed to be April 3rd. They are really scrambling on this and right now its all up to Creighton. I will try to get clarification.
Kentaro Takada would be an excellent addition – he was probably my favorite player last season for Rochester. He always seemed to be around the ball. It has been pretty interesting to see them put a team together in such short time.
At any rate…it will be an interesting season…good luck BQ!
Why good luck bq? I’m not the one running the team and you’ll be at the home games as well?
AC St. Louis plays a KC Wizards squad in St. Louis on Saturday, April 3rd in a double header with University of Evansville playing another squad of the Wizards. I think the intern got the date wrong in the press release.
http://www.gopurpleaces.com/news/2010/3/16/MSOC_0316105616.aspx
Ya, April 4th is a Sunday, Easter Sunday actually, and the 3rd is a Saturday. So something is amiss. I contacted Barclay Kruse of the NSC late yesterday afternoon and he was checking into it. I expect a clarification this morning.
I have received confirmation and now corrected the article that the day for the friendlies in Omaha, Nebraska are on Easter Sunday April 4.
Is it normal for D2 Pro teams to scrimmage high school/club teams? The Stars are putting their creditability as a Pro team on the line, while SSM has everything to gain. I can kind of see them scrimmage MN local club teams as they are the guys and parents that will be showing up to the games. In other words, as a PR thing I can see, a way to get back in touch with their fan base. When the old Thunder were successful they understood who their fan base was and supported the local clubs. Does SSM buy blocks of tickets like the MN Clubs have in the past? Do SSM players attend the camps that help fund their programs as MN players have into the past.
I could even kind of understand it if SSM had won the State Cup in either of last year’s U18 or U17 age groups. Most would not consider them the best team in the state. It seems to be a strange start and shows a lack of understanding of who their fans are.
BQ, I meant covering all of the interesting stories the season is likely to produce.
Historically, SSMs 18s team scrimmaged the Thunder/Thunder reserves. A couple of years ago with Bunburry and a few other stand out players, they competed well. SSM was able to attract higher caliber players until the youth academy system really developed over the past 3 or 4 years. Now most of the academy programs offer similar or better training and a very competitive schedule, while living closer to home.
This is really exciting. I think I am going to skip out of work Friday afternoon and go watch our professional soccer team!
PollyAnna,
I know you are pretty soccer savvy from other posts at other sites and I think you need to understand where this team is at this year. Here’s my take on this.
1st, the Thunder did the same thing last year if I recall correctly and also played the U-18 Thunder Academy team at Macalester. I was very under underwhelmed with all the preseason games scheduled last year. High school and average D-1 college teams does not cut it at the DII Pro level. The team performed poorly against those opponents and performed poorly in the first two months of play going 0-5-3 in April and May of league play.
http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2009/09/11/minnesota-thunder-a-tale-of-2-seasons/
I’m sure they will be playing Shattucks U-18 team. While I was critical of this last year I am not so much this year and I don’t think the publicity or “fanbase” begin to enter into this equation. Without totally excusing the fact that they are playing a HS team, the team is in a very unique situation, racing time to get a team put together for the league season opener.
There are still only 12 players signed and lots of invitees into camp. The team is starting preseason training tomorrow. If I’m Manny I’m just trying to find a spot thats in a dome and a team that will give me someone who will be real defenders and not passive defenders. As well, its a team that has been playing together all winter and should be fairly organized. So in that sense and for the team just starting into camp, I think it’s just fine.
Perhaps next year we can be concerned about what “fanbase” the Stars are targeting on their preseason training. For this year, lets give them the benefit of the doubt that they are just trying to get some competition to prepare for the season at a last minutes notice.
BQ I saw some of those games you spoke about last year. Your right, the Thunder looked awful. However, again I can kind of see theat MTA U18 team as the previous years State Cup winners as well as being a local team. It seemed like a way to connect with MN local teams and was kind of a inter squad scrimmage, especially given the problems they were having with MYSA. As I remember from post there seemed like there were quite a few fans out at the game, being centrally located and open to the public. SSM is neither a local club nor previous year State Cup winner, nor centrally located. The SSM did not even make it out of their bracket at State Cup.
In the past all of the highe level U17 & U18 teams practice all winter long 2-3 times a week. So, I’m not buying that SSM is more organized. So if that still the case it is because SSM has a dome?Wow, how sad that they are willing to play anybody with dome space. I thought that was one thing that NSC could bring to the table for them, unlimited practice space.
AC St. Louis do play KC Wizards in St. Louis at 7:00 pm April 3rd. I guess if they are playing NSC on the 4th, it would be a late afternoon or evening game or else some sort of ACSTL “split squad” team being sent in order to have the time to get to Omaha. With all the long distance travel ACSTL will have to do this year, I don’t see them splurging on airfare for a preseason game, although I could be way wrong. Good article.
Hmmm, open to public and I have tomorrow off… I might have to stop in for the early morning practice before the NCAA tourney starts up.
I expect I will see you up there Matthew.
Polly,
there a couple-few reasons that The Stars will include SSM in the preseason this year, and probably in future years.
First are the connections to the Thunder. Whether some like it or not, this organization is essentially the Thunder 2.0 (to use a new cliche one more time). Nine of the twelve NSC Minnesota players who have signed so far are former Thunder players. The Stars’ Head of Soccer Operations and Head Coach is a former Thunder Player and Head of Soccer Operations. The Team Administrator (Blaker) was a member of the Thunder Front Office.
“So, what does that have to do with Shattuck-St. Mary’s?” you might ask.
One of it’s Assistant Coaches/Players (Friedland) is a former Thunder player and former SSM U-17 Assistant Coach. The other assistant coach (Craig) is a former SSM U-16 Head Coach.
The Director of Soccer for SSM (Tim Carter) is a former Assistant Coach and Director of Youth Development for the Thunder. Other former Thunder players who have coached or are still coaching at SSM include Mike Madigan, Zafer Kilickan and Chris Brunt.
So, you see, the personnel from each organization know each other real well. They understand the purpose of the match and the style of soccer to be played. Any rivalry will be a friendly one. (This is not always the case. I’ve seen players thrown out of the match in some Thunder/”Blank” College/U preseason contests.)
Now, let’s address the quality of the SSM team. True, they are not the quality of opponent you would be looking for in a preseason if your roster was 4/5ths or so set and you were just looking at a couple of trialists to round out the squad. You’d probably want to be facing a solid College Division 1 or Outstanding Division 2 or 3 squad for your early matchups.
But this is not the case. We expect to only have around 2/3rds or so of the roster signed with up to a dozen triallists and prospects with plenty of uncertainty on who the starters will be and what formation and tactics the team is best suited for. In those circumstances, a slightly lower level of opponent would be called for, especially for a first match.
And I believe you under estimate the quality of the soccer program at SSM. For instance, while downgrading the school for ” not even [making] it out of their bracket at State Cup”, you neglect to mention that that same squad, the very next month, won the US Club Region D Championship, and followed that one month later with an appearence in the Championship match of the 2009 US Club National Cup. Their last appearence at a national tournament was about two and a half months ago, at the …lemme just get the entire title right here…Disney’s Soccer Showcase (Boys) Presented by Chelsea Football Club.
They won it.
http://www.gotsport.com/rankings/team.aspx?teamid=176529
ESPN kinda likes the program, too:
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:85Gdb62STnAJ:sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/soccer/news/story%3Fid%3D4883944+shattuck+st+mary%27s+soccer&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Finally, this soccer team, like the Thunder before it, is MINNESOTA’S professional soccer team, not just the Twin Cities. It has played friendlies in Rochester, Duluth and a handful of other towns throughout the state and five state area. While I agree that the seven county metro area is the primary area that we should expect the majority of our gameday sales from, this does not mean that we shouldn’t make the occasional trip into the hinterlands to spread the word, since we cannot expect the mass media to do it for us.
Both the Twins and the Vikings send members of their organizations to numerous small towns during the off-season to stir up out state interest. The Timberwolves first preseason game this season was played in Mankato. We should not be hesitant to do the same.
And as for the venue, itself, I have been to SSM to watch the Thunder play and it offers the option of outdoor or indoor play, if inclement weather occurs (which many outstate locations do not) and the SSM dome is among the best in the state for quality of surface and amenities.
Ideally, The NSC Stars would have already signed the vast majority of their team, have started their training camp two weeks ago, held a combine in December or January as well as another one in late February. Needless to say, for reasons both within and beyond their control, this enterprise has not had the luxury of “ideally”.
But under the circumstances, this is a wise start and your critique of it shows a lack of understanding of the conditions under which this team is assembling itself and the quality of the Shattuck St. Mary program.
Why wouldn’t the Stars just setup a scrimmage against an MASL select team then…? You would be playing against men who have played at a decent level in the past and present. Kallman, Bass, and Warren all played MASL in years past and they had a pretty big impact for the Thunder… A scrimmage against an MASL select team wouldn’t be a pushover and would be a good tune up in facing the physical play of adults compared to taking on a high school team.
I wish some people would stop knocking the Stars. They have not even stepped onto the soccer pitch and some people are annoying the heck out of me with their complaints. If you want to lay into a team–talk about the Timberwolves. All I want this summer is to watch soccer, be outside, drink beer and have fun with friends. I feel that the Stars are going to provide this for me and I can hardly wait.
BTW, when can I purchase my supporter scarf? I want to be first in line to get one!
Sorry Scott Kerssen, SSM last year was not in the same class as several other teams in that age group. Sounds like you have a vested interest in them. There performance at Disney and CASL were against teams significantly ranked less than them. When your ranked 35th and beat someone ranked 75th I don’t know if that says much. Not having seen the teams, but based on what I saw on paper SSM attends those tournaments not looking for competition as much as to showcase their players. They do that by playing against teams significantly ranked lower than themselves. They understand the winners are the teams that walk away with D1 Coaches showing interest in their players. Last time I checked there are no winners at Disney or CASL. Winning 2009 US Club National Cup is kind of saying they are the best of most of the second place teams. Most teams plan on that tournament if they lost at their State Cups and have not earn a spot thru MRL. Based only on what I saw at State Cup, I thought there were easily three teams better than SSM. Were they having a bad tournament, perhaps, my judgment is based solely on what I saw at State Cup. I know many would like to say State Cup doesn’t matter anymore, but in MN it is still like winning the World Cup. The Academy programs have not yet arrived here, there is not other place for players to be seen.
I also consider Faribault, Rochester and Duluth a part of local clubs. SSM may be located in Faribault but majority of the players and parents live outside of MN and the USA. I doubt SSM parents/players will be in the stands, unlike the local clubs parents and player. I also doubt that SSM will be purchasing tickets either, unlike what the local clubs have done in the past. The Vikings and other local professional teams do community events such as the Vikings playing basketball against the teachers at a high school. That is the only reason I can see why the Thunder/Stars would want to compete against a youth team. Playing SSM brings nothing to the field for the Thunder/Stars and brings one more marketing tool for SSM. So why do it?
As far as the coaching connection you’re probably right there. But then again, I’m not sure if that says much for the organization as a whole. Are players and coaches trying to put the best product on the field or line up their next job? I think NSC runs a pretty tight ship; they have always done outstanding marketing and usually understand who their target group is. It was one of the real strengths I thought they would bring the team. I would agree with Michigan Mike playing a youth team seems like a questionable beginning, playing a MASL team makes much more sense. Besides for the very reason of this discussion why would they want to get involved in the mess of SSM vs. MN Club teams?
Pat Robson, please try reading Scott Kerrson’s post again. Everything you need to know is contained therein.
And please…stop with the petty BS about who was better in the State Cup.
Time is short, SSM has the facilities, a team that has trained together all winter and is fit.
Putting together a men’s select team doesn’t make sense considering the fact that SSM U18 team is already organized and put together, not out of shape and unable to compete hard for 90 min. Again, see above.
Please stop whining about why they were chosen as an opponent. It’s annoying, frankly.
Have a nice day.
Sorry to interrupt this senseless argument (Scott totally served you all by the way), but did anyone else just see Nessy? I just saw her south of the Velodrome parking lot in that tiny little pond!. I tried taking a photograph, but it is really fuzzy: http://tinyurl.com/ykpkwer
THE WRANGLER AND NESSY IN 2010!
Does anyone know how late the 1:30 session runs?
Well, M I thought I had read his post but just to make you happy, I reread it.
Scott said that the Thunder/Star will play SSM this year and other years because they have strong ties with the Coaching staff at SSM. That many past Thunder players have become employed at SSM. That Tim Carter was once employed with the Thunder. So, again are they looking to create the best team they can or networking for future employment. Not a very impressive way to start things.
As you put “stop with the petty BS about who was better in the State Cup” If you think USA was better than Italy in the 2006 World Cup I guess you could think it is petty. Believe it or not, I’m not trying to be petty, but I do think parents have problems coming to terms with their kids losing. It not the end of the world that SSM lost, but it does mean so far in MN they are not the top team to beat. It fortunate that every year the kids get another shot and being the best and they don’t have to wait four years.
I don’t want to drag Thunder/Stars down without offerng an alternative solution. If playing a MASL team isn’t an option, how about playing one of the college teams. There are plenty of them. Granted my son is playing NAIA in a different state but I do know he been training all winter long, and his team is in shape. I would imagine that Augsburg, Macalister, Gustavus have all be doing some training and would also welcome the opportunity to make some connections with pro soccer.
Overall, it looks like I and others question why they are playing a youth team. Our family in the past has been a season ticket holder, all three of my boys grew up going to Thunder Camps. The Thunder of the late ’90 was a lot of fun to watch. They were fast and skilled. They had five or six players on the team that grew up in Minnesota. We loved it! I want to see it again! I don’t want to see a team that isn’t ready for the season because the coaches and management have been networking. It was a mistake they made last year, learn from it.
ps sorry about being annoying, it comes naturally.
You folks are really missing the point.
NESSY IS REAL.
Yes, playing a MASL Select team is a good idea; 1) a team who’ve never played together before; and 2) they’ve been sitting on the couch all winter.
Come on people, enough with the negativity.
At last, the ball will hit the turf tomorrow…
Neal, nearly all MASL division 1 players play all winter long in indoor leagues… Not certain where you are seeing any negativity…
MASL Div. 1 players are very high level players who play year round, many of whom could play professionally if they so desired. Also, most of the top players in the MASL have played together in some capacity and are very familiar with each other. That being said, I have no problem with the Stars playing SSM. It’s a well structured environment against kids who are in peak condition. Right now, the important thing is getting these guys comfortable with each other, and SSM is a fine environment for that.
fair enough, not to slag on the MASL D1 players … I have high respect for them on several levels.
Peace and futbol.
Showed up at NSC today at 3:00 to try and catch some of the afternoon training session. When I got there no one was around, and the receptionist had no idea of what I was looking for. She actually didn’t even know that the club was doing 2-a-days.
Not a good way for a team to start off. Either 1) They do not know how to disseminate information correctly. Making them look very disorganized. Or 2) the squad’s afternoon session was only 1 1/2 hours, which makes me wonder how they expect to be taken seriously. My high school tennis pre-season training was more strenuous than that.
Either way, very bothersome. Does anyone know anything about the sessions today?
It was all classroom work the second half of the day. They are studying film on how to breakdown the SSM defense.
MichiganMike, is that the truth or are you being sarcastic? Either way, it’s funny.
It was sarcastic, I shouldn’t poke too much fun at the Stars. I play indoor with a few of the players in the offseason.
In perusing the Rochester Rhinos sight they are playing 2 universities, 1 mens amateur team and 1 NASL team (Monteal) in their preseason. Obviously, the relative location of Montreal to Rochester allows the final matchup, but this seems like a similar case to our preseason.
Finally, in talking to some of the players on Friday it sounded like a lot of the signed players may not make a long appearance against Shattuck’s as they were trying to give an extra look to the trialists.
Simone Bracalello (sp?) will not report to camp for one more week as he is in Italy tying up loose ends before the move to the states.
Can’t wait to hear the positive spin put on the fact our boys were just shut out by a high school team. I’m glad they weren’t playing anyone good. That would have been embarrassing. Oh wait, this was embarrassing. Come on Stars, let’s do better against Marquette next weekend.
We may need to line up a game with NSC Minnesota against the Drinky Crows in order to get some goals scored in the pre-season?