Kevin Maher (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Maher is a retired American soccer midfielder
who spent four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He was the 1984–1985 MISL Rookie of the Year and a 1982 NCAA Division I first team All American
.
. He and his team mates won three consecutive state championships (1976–1978) and Maher was named a Parade Magazine High School All-America in 1978. He then attended Yale University
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1979 to 1982. He was a 1981 second team and 1982 first team All American
. In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, he scored 33 goals and added 44 assists. In 1983, he played with the U.S. U-23 national team
at the 1983 Pan American Games
.
selected Maher in the Major Indoor Soccer League
draft. He spent
Maher joined the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Spirit, winning 1983–1984 Rookie of the Year honors. In August 1986, the expansion New York Express
announced they had signed Maher. The Express folded during the season and Maher retired from playing professionally.
He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who spent four seasons 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...
. He was the 1984–1985 MISL Rookie of the Year and a 1982 NCAA Division I first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
.
Youth
Maher played soccer from 1975 to 1978 at Guilford High SchoolGuilford High School (Connecticut)
Guilford High School is a four-year public high school in Guilford, Connecticut. According to the school website,College Board Scholastic Assessment Test and Connecticut Academic Performance Tests results for GHS students are consistently above state, regional and national averages...
. He and his team mates won three consecutive state championships (1976–1978) and Maher was named a Parade Magazine High School All-America in 1978. He then attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1979 to 1982. He was a 1981 second team and 1982 first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. In his four seasons with the Bulldogs, he scored 33 goals and added 44 assists. In 1983, he played with the U.S. U-23 national team
United States under-23 men's national soccer team
The United States U-23 men's national soccer team, also known as the United States men's Olympic soccer team, is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of U.S. Soccer. Its primary role is qualification into and competition at the quadriennial Olympic Football Tournament, the next of which...
at the 1983 Pan American Games
Football at the 1983 Pan American Games
The ninth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Caracas, Venezuela, from August 15 to August 27, 1983. Ten teams competed in a first round-robin competition, with Brazil defending the title. After the preliminary round there was a final round.-Group A:-Group...
.
Professional
In 1983, the Pittsburgh SpiritPittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
selected Maher 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...
draft. He spent
Maher joined the Pittsburgh Spirit of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He spent three seasons with the Spirit, winning 1983–1984 Rookie of the Year honors. In August 1986, the expansion New York Express
New York Express
This article is about the former indoor soccer team.The New York Express were a soccer team based out of Uniondale, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played only one season, the 1986-1987 season. Their home arena was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
announced they had signed Maher. The Express folded during the season and Maher retired from playing professionally.
He was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.