Arizona Sahuaros
Encyclopedia
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.
was named Coach of the Year. 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. 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. 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.
(1989-1991) Cole Antonijevic (1992) Zelimar Antonijevic (1993-1995) Dave Murray (1996) Walter Brusic (1996-1998) Matt Kozul (1998-1999) Petar Draksin (2000-2009) Orhan Kraja (2010-present)
The Sahuaros are currently securing funds to build one of the first soccer-specific stadium
s in the USASA
. It would seat 7,500 spectators and come complete with luxury box
es, restaurant
s, training facilities, and office headquarters for the team.
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1989, the team is member of the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL), a national amateur league at the fourth 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 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
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
. The team's colors are gold and navy blue.
History
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 BaralićPeter Baralić
Peter Baralic is a retired Yugoslavian soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached the Phoenix Hearts of the Southwest Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1990 SISL Coach of the Year.-Player:In 1979, Baralic signed with...
was named Coach of the Year. 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
Atlanta Magic
The Atlanta Magic were a soccer club that competed in the USISL from 1991 to 1996. The club originally started in 1991/92 in the indoor USISL league. They played in the 1992 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Datagraphic Magic, and the 1993 USISL outdoor season as the Atlanta Lasers...
. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year. 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
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 1998, Suharoes coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year. 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
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008.
2010 USOC roster
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 BaralićPeter Baralić
Peter Baralic is a retired Yugoslavian soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached the Phoenix Hearts of the Southwest Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1990 SISL Coach of the Year.-Player:In 1979, Baralic signed with...
(1989-1991) Cole Antonijevic (1992) Zelimar Antonijevic (1993-1995) Dave Murray (1996) Walter Brusic (1996-1998) Matt Kozul (1998-1999) Petar Draksin (2000-2009) Orhan Kraja (2010-present)
Stadia
- Stadium at Grand Canyon UniversityGrand Canyon UniversityGrand Canyon University is a for-profit Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona. It is owned by Grand Canyon Education . GCU was founded in 1949 as a non-profit liberal arts college. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. purchased Grand Canyon University in February 2004...
, Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
(1989-present)
The Sahuaros are currently securing funds to build one of the first soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
s in the USASA
USASA
The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...
. It would seat 7,500 spectators and come complete with luxury box
Luxury box
A Luxury box is a special seating section located within stadiums, arenas and other sporting and entertainment venues. They are typically located in the midsection of a stadium grandstand, usually providing the best views of the event...
es, restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, training facilities, and office headquarters for the team.