Minnesota Stars Take on Atlanta Silverbacks in Final Regular Season Home Game

The NSC Minnesota Stars (7-8-10) will take on the Atlanta Silverbacks (4-3-18) tonight in Blaine, Minnesota in the last regular season home game of the 2011 season. The Stars are struggling for their playoff lives as they journey though a late season slump. The Minnesota team that had seen themselves in anywhere from 2nd to 4th place in the standings most of the season have dropped to 6th, the final playoff spot in the league. After losing Tuesday night to FC Tampa Bay at home, the Stars have lost six of their last seven and are on a 4-game losing streak.

Minnesota played their first 3 games against Atlanta all early in the season and are 3-0 against the Silverbacks who have already been eliminated from the playoffs for several weeks. However, Atlanta has been playing some of their best soccer of the season recently as they play for pride.

The Stars have struggled through some injury issues as of late, so it was good news on Friday when the team announced they have signed Daniel Wasson to a contract for the remainder of the season. Wasson tore his ACL before the season started while preparing for the Stars season. After surgery to repair the damage he has been both working hard at rehabbing the injury and assisting the team in several capacities. Recently Wasson was given the okay to do light workouts with the team and passed another test this past week that allowed him to resume playing.

It was also announced on Thursday that Illinois native and former Stars player Scotty Lorenz, who had been loaned to Minnesota from Sporting KC of MLS, was released back to his MLS team. Coach Manny Lagos had used Lorenz on the left outside midfield position and he was one of the more dynamic players for the Stars on offense. However, the team was 0-6-1 since his insertion into the lineup.

The Montreal Impact are trying to overtake Minnesota as the final team in the playoffs and are only 3 points below the Stars in the standings. A home win tonight for Minnesota is vital. The Stars will attempt to right the ship tonight with a  7:30 p.m. kickoff at the NSC Stadium in Blaine, Minn.

After Saturday’s home game things will get even tougher for the Stars as they head into a two game road trip having to play 3rd place Tampa Bay and 1st place Carolina. The RailHawks have already won the NASL regular season championship and a bye in the playoffs.  FC Tampa Bay have clinched a playoff spot, but are fighting to keep their third place position which will give them a home field advantage and allow them to meet the 6th place team.

Stars to host Minnesota Soccer History Night before game

Former players from more than 35 years of professional soccer history in Minnesota will take the field for an exhibition game before Saturday’s match as the Stars finish their season by celebrating Minnesota Soccer History Night, presented by the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and Bricks American Pub. Former members of the Minnesota Kicks, including the team’s all-time leading goalscorer Alan Willey, Minnesota Strikers and Minnesota Thunder will all take the field together for the free event. NSC Stadium will open at 5:30 p.m. for the 5:45 exhibition game before being cleared prior to the Stars’ match with Atlanta.