Cris Vaccaro
Encyclopedia
Cris Vaccaro is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League
, American Professional Soccer League
and National Professional Soccer League. He is currently an assistant coach with the Stockton State College women's team.
. He was born and grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Camden Catholic High School
in 1976. He then attended Mercer County College from 1976 to 1978 and the University of Baltimore
from 1978 to 1980.
of the North American Soccer League
signed Vaccaro, but he saw no first team games. In 1981, he signed with the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League
and played seven games. The Blast released him at the end of the season. In October 1981, he had a trial with the Philadelphia Fever
, but was not offered a contract. He then attended a trial with the New Jersey Rockets
, but again failed to gain a contract. However, the team told him that they would call him if any of the Rocket's goalkeepers were hurt. Two weeks later, Alan Mayer
was injured and Vaccaro signed with the Rockets. At the end of the season, the Rockets traded Vaccaro to the Cleveland Force
where he spent the next five seasons. On June 5, 1987, the Force sent Vaccaro to the Chicago Sting
in exchange for Victor Nogueira
. He was the Sting's starting goalkeeper for most of the season, but Vaccaro became a free agent and signed with the Wichita Wings
during the summer of 1988. In September 1989, Vaccaro signed with the Tacoma Stars. The Wings filed a grievance, but the Stars won the appeal and kept Vaccaro's contract. He spent two seasons in Tacoma, but was released in July 1990 as part of cost reduction effort. Vaccaro rejoined the Stars in October and played the 1990-1991 season with them. In 1991, he returned to outdoor soccer with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
of the American Professional Soccer League
. In the fall of 1991, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Blast. In December 1991, he scored his league record seventh career goal. However, both the Blast and MISL collapsed in 1992. Vaccaro then joined the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League. He played five seasons with the Spirit before retiring in 1997.
. He was the head coach of Gloucester College in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Stockton State College hired Vaccaro as an assistant coach with the women's soccer team and goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's soccer teams.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and National Professional Soccer League. He is currently an assistant coach with the Stockton State College women's team.
Youth
Vaccaro's father was born in Argentina and his mother in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. He was born and grew up in New Jersey where he graduated from Camden Catholic High School
Camden Catholic High School
Camden Catholic High School is a four-year comprehensive private coeducational Roman Catholic High School, located in Cherry Hill Township, New Jersey, serving students from the Camden County area...
in 1976. He then attended Mercer County College from 1976 to 1978 and the University of Baltimore
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore , located in downtown Baltimore, Maryland in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood at 1420 N. Charles Street, is part of the University System of Maryland. Through the Freshman Initiative or Lower Division Initiative, UB has transformed from an upper division university to a...
from 1978 to 1980.
Professional
In 1980, the Seattle SoundersSeattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
signed Vaccaro, but he saw no first team games. In 1981, he signed with the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and played seven games. The Blast released him at the end of the season. In October 1981, he had a trial with the Philadelphia Fever
Philadelphia Fever
.The Philadelphia Fever were an indoor soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1982. Their home arena was the Spectrum)...
, but was not offered a contract. He then attended a trial with the New Jersey Rockets
New Jersey Rockets
The New Jersey Rockets were an indoor soccer team based out of East Rutherford, New Jersey that played in the Major Soccer League for the 1981 season. Their home arena was the Brendan Byrne Arena, now known as the Izod Center...
, but again failed to gain a contract. However, the team told him that they would call him if any of the Rocket's goalkeepers were hurt. Two weeks later, Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer
Alan Mayer, a native of Islip, New York is a retired soccer goalkeeper from the United States. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team....
was injured and Vaccaro signed with the Rockets. At the end of the season, the Rockets traded Vaccaro to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
where he spent the next five seasons. On June 5, 1987, the Force sent Vaccaro to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
in exchange for Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira
Victor Nogueira is a retired American soccer goalkeeper. Nogueira spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, but gained his greatest recognition in over twenty seasons in three indoor leagues, the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League and the second Major...
. He was the Sting's starting goalkeeper for most of the season, but Vaccaro became a free agent and signed with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
during the summer of 1988. In September 1989, Vaccaro signed with the Tacoma Stars. The Wings filed a grievance, but the Stars won the appeal and kept Vaccaro's contract. He spent two seasons in Tacoma, but was released in July 1990 as part of cost reduction effort. Vaccaro rejoined the Stars in October and played the 1990-1991 season with them. In 1991, he returned to outdoor soccer with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
. In the fall of 1991, he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Blast. In December 1991, he scored his league record seventh career goal. However, both the Blast and MISL collapsed in 1992. Vaccaro then joined the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League. He played five seasons with the Spirit before retiring in 1997.
National team
Vaccaro's mother and father retired to Puerto Rico. When Vaccaro visited thim in 1987, he discovered the island had a national team. After meeting with the team's head coach, Vaccaro was offered a position on the team.Coach
In 1994, Vaccaro became an assistant coach with the Baltimore Spirit. From 1995 to 2000, he coached the Puerto Rico national football teamPuerto Rico national football team
The Puerto Rico national football team is the national team of Puerto Rico and is controlled by Federación Puertorriqueña de Fútbol. Puerto Rico's national football team is a member of the Caribbean Football Union, part of the CONCACAF....
. He was the head coach of Gloucester College in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, Stockton State College hired Vaccaro as an assistant coach with the women's soccer team and goalkeeper coach for both the men's and women's soccer teams.