A.A.C. Eagles
Encyclopedia
A.A.C. Eagles is an American amateur soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States
. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
.
The team's colors are red and white.
club by immigrants to the Chicago
area in 1940. Originally known as the Polish American Athletic Club Eagles (PAAC Eagles), the team first played in the National Soccer League of Chicago
, and played under that name until 1950, when the team became officially known as the Chicago Eagles. Since then the team has been known by various names, swapping between its earlier names (PAAC Eagles, Chicago Eagles), and newer variants (Chicago American Eagles, Polish Eagles), before settling on its current incarnation in the mid 1990s. The Eagles currently play in the Metropolitan Soccer League, which is a member of the United States Adult Soccer Association Region II group of leagues.
The Eagles have a long and distinguished history of competing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
. Having already reached the final stages of the competition during its early years in 1948 and 1949, the Eagles reached the semi-finals in 1989
, losing on penalties to eventual winners St. Petersburg Kickers
, and won the tournament in 1990
in the pre-MLS era, beating the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in the final thanks to goals from Jan Kiaca and Peter Modrzejewski. Their win in the competition also gave them entry to the 1991 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, where they lost 4-1 on aggregate in the first round to Bermudian club PHC Zebras
.
The Eagles qualified for the cup again in 1994
, the last all-amateur competition prior to the entrance of teams from Major League Soccer
, but lost 2-1 to Bavarian Leinenkugel in the quarter finals. Since the introduction of professional teams into the cup the Eagles have not fared as well. They lost in the first round to the Chicago Stingers in 1995
, lost in the first round again in 2002 to New York Freedom
, and lost in the first round for a third time in 2005, this time falling 4-1 to USL Premier Development League
side Chicago Fire Premier
.
In 2008 the club qualified for their fourth modern US Open Cup, beating the Milwaukee Bavarians
and Des Moines Menace Reserves
in their regional qualification tournament, but lost 4-0 in the first round to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
of the USL Second Division
.
In addition to their USOC triumph in 1990, the Eagles won the USASA
Open Cup in 1989 and 2002. They are nine-time Illinois state champions, eleven-time Metropolitan Soccer League Major Division champions, and also sponsored the Chicago Eagles Select
which briefly played in the USL Premier Development League
in 2001 and 2002.
Seth Galloway Tomas Gansauge Joseph Gryzik
Rafał Kwieciński Millard Lang
Adam Wolanin
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1940, the team plays in Region II of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
.
The team's colors are red and white.
History
The Eagles were formed as an ethnic PolishPolish American
A Polish American , is a citizen of the United States of Polish descent. There are an estimated 10 million Polish Americans, representing about 3.2% of the population of the United States...
club by immigrants to the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
area in 1940. Originally known as the Polish American Athletic Club Eagles (PAAC Eagles), the team first played in the National Soccer League of Chicago
National Soccer League of Chicago
The National Soccer League of Chicago, formed by the merger of the Chicago Soccer League and International Soccer Football League of Chicago in 1928, is a semi-professional U.S...
, and played under that name until 1950, when the team became officially known as the Chicago Eagles. Since then the team has been known by various names, swapping between its earlier names (PAAC Eagles, Chicago Eagles), and newer variants (Chicago American Eagles, Polish Eagles), before settling on its current incarnation in the mid 1990s. The Eagles currently play in the Metropolitan Soccer League, which is a member of the United States Adult Soccer Association Region II group of leagues.
The Eagles have a long and distinguished history of competing in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
. Having already reached the final stages of the competition during its early years in 1948 and 1949, the Eagles reached the semi-finals in 1989
1989 U.S. Open Cup
-Final:Tournament MVP: Joey Valenti-Sources:*St. Petersburg Times*St. Louis Post-Dispatch*Newsday*The Capital Times*Wisconsin State Journal*Daily Breeze*Chicago Sun-Times*Washington Post*The Dallas Morning News*Los Angeles Times...
, losing on penalties to eventual winners St. Petersburg Kickers
St. Petersburg Kickers
The St. Petersburg Kickers were an amateur American soccer team which won the 1989 U.S. Open Cup.Founded by Kurt Herbach in 1957, the Kickers won their first national title, the 1967 Over-30 championship. By 1989, the team had won eleven Sun Coast Soccer League championships and four Florida...
, and won the tournament in 1990
1990 U.S. Open Cup
- Regional Semifinals :*I Philadelphia United German-Hungarians 4-2 Acton Colonials *I Brooklyn Italians 3-1 Beadling *II A.A.C. Eagles 1-0 Madison 56ers *II Mike Duffy's 3-1 Craftsman Paint...
in the pre-MLS era, beating the Brooklyn Italians 2-0 in the final thanks to goals from Jan Kiaca and Peter Modrzejewski. Their win in the competition also gave them entry to the 1991 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, where they lost 4-1 on aggregate in the first round to Bermudian club PHC Zebras
PHC Zebras
The Pembroke Hamilton Club Zebras are a professional football team based in Pembroke Parish who play in the Cingular Wireless Premier Division in Bermuda.They have, to date, won 9 League Championship titles and 39 trophies all together....
.
The Eagles qualified for the cup again in 1994
1994 U.S. Open Cup
-Final:...
, the last all-amateur competition prior to the entrance of teams from Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, but lost 2-1 to Bavarian Leinenkugel in the quarter finals. Since the introduction of professional teams into the cup the Eagles have not fared as well. They lost in the first round to the Chicago Stingers in 1995
1995 U.S. Open Cup
- First Round :* AAC Eagles 1-2 Chicago Stingers * Connecticut Wolves 0-3 New York Centaurs * Tampa Bay Cyclones 2-4 Atlanta Ruckus * Richmond Kickers 6-1 Maryland Spartans...
, lost in the first round again in 2002 to New York Freedom
New York Freedom
The New York Freedom are a defunct American soccer club based in New York, New York.-Year-by-year:...
, and lost in the first round for a third time in 2005, this time falling 4-1 to USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
side Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier
Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at...
.
In 2008 the club qualified for their fourth modern US Open Cup, beating the Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians
Milwaukee Bavarians is an American soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1929, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Midwest Division.The team plays its home games in the...
and Des Moines Menace Reserves
Des Moines Menace
Des Moines Menace is an American soccer team based in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1994, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Heartland Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at Valley...
in their regional qualification tournament, but lost 4-0 in the first round to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Pittsburgh Riverhounds is an American professional soccer team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1999, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
of the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
In addition to their USOC triumph in 1990, the Eagles won the USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
Open Cup in 1989 and 2002. They are nine-time Illinois state champions, eleven-time Metropolitan Soccer League Major Division champions, and also sponsored the Chicago Eagles Select
Chicago Eagles Select
Chicago Eagles Select were an American soccer team, founded in 2001, who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2002, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated....
which briefly played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2001 and 2002.
Current roster
Source: http://aaceagles.futbolowo.pl/aaceagles/menu,4,58,kadra.htmlNotable former players
John BocwinskiJohn Bocwinski
John Bocwinski was an Argentine-American soccer defender who was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics-Youth:...
Seth Galloway Tomas Gansauge Joseph Gryzik
Joseph Gryzik
Joseph Gryzik was a U.S. soccer halfback who spent his entire career with the Chicago Eagles of the National Soccer League of Chicago. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
Rafał Kwieciński Millard Lang
Millard Lang
Millard T. Lang was a U.S. soccer forward and lacrosse player who is a member of both the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame....
Adam Wolanin
Adam Wolanin
Adam Wolanin was a Polish American soccer forward who was a member of the U.S. national team at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | - | Quarter Finals (West) | |||
| 1949 | - | Final (West) | |||
| 1989 | 5 | USASA | Semi Finals | ||
| 1990 | 5 | USASA | Champions | ||
| 1994 | 5 | USASA | Quarter Finals | ||
| 1995 | 5 | USASA | 1st Round | ||
| 2002 | 5 | USASA | 1st Round | ||
| 2005 | 5 | USASA | 1st Round | ||
| 2008 | 5 | USASA | 1st Round | ||
| 2010 | 5 | USASA | Did not qualify | ||
| 2011 | 5 | USASA | 1st Round |
Honors
- U.S. Open Cup Winner (1): 19901990 U.S. Open Cup- Regional Semifinals :*I Philadelphia United German-Hungarians 4-2 Acton Colonials *I Brooklyn Italians 3-1 Beadling *II A.A.C. Eagles 1-0 Madison 56ers *II Mike Duffy's 3-1 Craftsman Paint...
- National Amateur CupNational Amateur CupThe National Amateur Cup is an American soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation...
Winner (1): 1989 - Peel CupPeel CupThe Peter J. Peel Challenge Cup, better known as the Peel Cup, was an open soccer competition that crowned the Illinois state champion until it was replaced by the Illinois Governor’s Cup in 1970.-Origins:...
Winner (7): 1950, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1963, 1999, 2000