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 Township, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College (since renamed as The College of New Jersey). ^[1] The team also played a small number of home games at La Salle University.

The team was coached by Dave MacWilliams and assisted by former local professional player Tom O'Dea. Mike Romeo was the team's goalkeeper coach. Notable players included Cris Vaccaro and Dan Donigan as well as a pair of current NCAA Division I coaches, David Masur of St. John's University and George Gelnovatch of University of Virginia. The team also had Matt Knowles, who was the first draft pick of the New York/New Jersey Metrostars in 1996. ^[2]

The original ownership group included Spencer Rockman and Pat Varsalona, who were the co-founders of the Garden State Soccer League, New Jersey's largest adult semipro/amateur soccer league and long-time soccer entrepreneur Charles Cuttone, who sold his interest before the team's first season. Then-Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso served as the team's General Manager.

Although reasonably well-supported, the team ceased operations after its second season.

Ownership

• Spencer Rockman - Co-Owner
• Pat Varsalona - Co-Owner
• Vincent Baldino - Co-Owner
• Charles Cuttone - Co-Owner

Coaching staff

• Dave MacWilliams - Head Coach (1990-1991)
• Paulo Dias - Head Coach (1991) ^[3]
• Tom O'Dea - Assistant Coach
• Mike Romeo - Goalkeeping Coach

Honors

First Team All Star

• 1990 Dale Caya, Brian Ainscough, George Gelnovatch, Dan Donigan

Second Team All Star

• 1990 Pat O'Kelley

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Reg. season	Playoffs	Open Cup	Avg. attendance
1990	1	APSL	3rd, ASL North	Did not qualify	Did not enter	2,614
1991	1	APSL	4th, American	Did not qualify	Did not enter

References

1. "Semi-pro soccer club announces plans to kick off next year", Community News, June 9, 2020. Accessed July 3, 2025. "In 1990 and 1991, the Penn-Jersey Spirit of the now-disbanded American Professional Soccer League used Lion’s Stadium as their home field, on the campus of what is now The College of New Jersey in Ewing."
2. "Metro Stars Players and Personnel", The Star-Ledger , April 7, 1996. Accessed July 3, 2025, via Newspapers.com. "Matt Knowles... The MetroStar's first draft pick, coming off a season with the indoor Milwaukee Wave of the NPSL, where he has played for five years.... Also played for the Penn-Jersey Spirit, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Tampa Bay Rowdies of the APSL."
3. Porter, David (August 3, 1991). "Depleted Spirit plays final home game". The Times . p. C9 – via Newspapers.com.