Jim Tietjens
Encyclopedia
Jim Tietjens is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
, Major Indoor Soccer League
and United Soccer League
.
Tietjens graduated from Oakville High School
. He then attended St. Louis University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1978 and 1979. He was inducted into the Billikens Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1980, he turned professional with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League
. He spent three season with the Strikers as a backup to Jan van Beveren
except for two games during his rookie season when injuries put him in the nets. He suffered a knee injury requiring surgergy during a February 1983 indoor tournament and remained a backup for the 1983 season. In November 1983, he signed with the Kansas City Comets
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
. However, he lost much of the early season with a dislocated shoulder then served as a backup for the rest of the season. In May 1984, he signed with the Fort Lauderdale Sun
of the United Soccer League
. He led the league with the lowest goals against average
. He continued to play for the Sun, now known as the South Florida Sun in 1985. He had the second lowest goals against average. When the team and the league collapsed after six games, Tietjens moved back to St. Louis where he worked for Rawling Sports. In October 1991, Tietjens was diagnosed with a heart problem. In July 1992, Tietjens was given a life saving heart transplant.
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 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:...
, 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 United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
.
Tietjens graduated from Oakville High School
Oakville High School
Oakville Senior High School is a secondary school in Oakville, Missouri operated by the Mehlville School District.Oakville High School is located in a suburb in the South County Area of St...
. He then attended St. Louis University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1978 and 1979. He was inducted into the Billikens Hall of Fame in 1995. In 1980, he turned professional with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers 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:...
. He spent three season with the Strikers as a backup to Jan van Beveren
Jan van Beveren
Jan van Beveren was a Dutch football goalkeeper who played 32 caps for the Dutch National Team during the late 1960s and the 1970s....
except for two games during his rookie season when injuries put him in the nets. He suffered a knee injury requiring surgergy during a February 1983 indoor tournament and remained a backup for the 1983 season. In November 1983, he signed with the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
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...
. However, he lost much of the early season with a dislocated shoulder then served as a backup for the rest of the season. In May 1984, he signed with the Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun was a U.S. soccer team which played two seasons in the United Soccer League. In 1983, the team was known as the Fort Lauderdale Sun, but in 1985, changed its name to the South Florida Sun.-Origins:...
of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He led the league with the lowest goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
. He continued to play for the Sun, now known as the South Florida Sun in 1985. He had the second lowest goals against average. When the team and the league collapsed after six games, Tietjens moved back to St. Louis where he worked for Rawling Sports. In October 1991, Tietjens was diagnosed with a heart problem. In July 1992, Tietjens was given a life saving heart transplant.