Seattle SeaDogs

Last updated

Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs logo.jpg
Full nameSeattle SeaDogs
Founded1993
Dissolved1997
Stadium Seattle Center Arena
KeyArena
Seattle, Washington
Capacity4,055 (Seattle Center)
14,545 (KeyArena)
Manager Fernando Clavijo (1994–1997)
League Continental Indoor Soccer League
1997 League: 1st
Playoffs: Champions

The Seattle SeaDogs were an indoor soccer team based in Seattle, Washington, United States. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) from 1995 to 1997 with home games at Mercer Arena and KeyArena. The team were owned by the Ackerley Group, who also operated the Seattle SuperSonics, and were announced in 1993 amid a wave of new professional soccer teams in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Contents

The SeaDogs, coached by Fernando Clavijo, had poor attendance during the first two seasons and failed to reach the playoffs, finishing in 1996 as the worst team in the CISL. The team then amassed the best regular season record in the league during the 1997 season and went undefeated during the playoffs to win their first CISL Championship. The league folded at the end of the season and the SeaDogs were dissolved.

History

First seasons

On November 16, 1993, the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) awarded an expansion franchise to the Ackerley Group, owner of the Seattle SuperSonics of the National Basketball Association. [1] The region previously had other indoor teams, including the Tacoma Stars of the defunct Major Indoor Soccer League; a CISL bid for a Tacoma team had failed to garner support. [2] The team's name, the SeaDogs, was announced in November 1994 alongside the unveiling of head coach Fernando Clavijo, a member of the United States national team who played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. [3] The team's mascot, a purple dog named "Salty", was named in a later fan contest. [4] The SeaDogs were among several professional soccer teams in the Seattle area that had begun to play in the mid-1990s, including the outdoor Seattle Sounders and Everett BigFoot. [5]

The SeaDogs held an open scrimmage prior to the regular season at their temporary home, Seattle Center Arena, that drew 98 spectators. [6] The team made their debut on June 23, 1995, where they defeated the San Jose Grizzlies 6–5 in sudden-death overtime in front of 3,529 spectators in Seattle. [7] They had poor attendance, with an average crowd of under 2,000 by early August, blamed in part due to competition from other professional soccer teams in the area. [8] The SeaDogs finished their inaugural season with a 12–16 record and missed the playoffs; during the offseason, they lost top scorer Jean Harbor to the Colorado Rapids and key forward Michael Collins to the Sacramento Knights. [9] Harbor later returned to the team on loan from the Rapids. [10]

The team moved to KeyArena for the 1996 season and had an average attendance of 3,812—ninth of eleven teams in the CISL and 26 percent of the arena's capacity. [11] The SeaDogs and Sounders, who played at nearby Memorial Stadium, had scheduled overlapping games on several nights that affected attendance figures for both teams. [8] The SeaDogs finished last in the Western Division with a 10–18 record and a league-low 143 goals scored, but the team earned a franchise-record 11–5 victory against the Detroit Neon in their final match of the season. [12] New signing Juan de la O won the CISL Goalkeeper of the Year Award for his performances, which included a league-low 148 goals allowed. [13] Seattle made several acquisitions late in the season and into the offseason, including John Olu-Molomo in a trade from the San Diego Sockers and ex-Sounders players Bill Crook and Dick McCormick. [10] [14]

Championship and folding

The SeaDogs began their 1997 season with a franchise-best seven consecutive wins, including five road games to open the year; Harbor led the team in scoring, followed by Olu-Molomo prior to an injury to his right shoulder. [15] [16] They then lost several matches and dropped from the top of the Western Division standings but regained first place in late August with a 14–5 record. [17] The SeaDogs finished the regular season with 21 wins and 7 losses—the best record in the league—and set several team records. They also drew an average of 2,769 spectators at KeyArena. [18]

The team were seeded in the Western semifinals against the fourth-place Portland Pride, who hosted the first leg and held to a 2–2 draw at halftime; the SeaDogs scored six goals in the second half to win 8–2. [19] Seattle completed a two-game sweep of Portland with a 6–5 victory at KeyArena with two last-minute goals to avoid a deciding mini-game round. [20] The SeaDogs then opened the Western Final against the Sacramento Knights with a 6–2 away victory and played the following night at KeyArena. [21] The Knights had a 2–0 lead at halftime, but four goals from the hosts gave Seattle a 4–3 victory and a berth in the CISL Championship against the Houston Hotshots, the 1996 runners-up. [22] [23]

The SeaDogs conceded four goals in the first two quarters of the championship's first game at KeyArena, played in front of 6,530, but rallied with three goals before halftime. [23] An additional two goals from the hosts forced a sudden death overtime period, during which Olu-Molomo scored within two minutes to win the game 6–5 for Seattle. [24] The SeaDogs clinched their first CISL Championship with a 7–1 win at The Summit in Houston the following night with two goals from McCormick. [25] The title finished a "worst-to-first" turnaround for the SeaDogs, who had the league's worst record in 1996 and were undefeated in the playoffs—a league first. [25] [26] Juan de la O was named the championship's most valuable player, having made 15 saves in the second game. [27]

The CISL folded following the departure of several teams at the end of the 1997 season; Seattle was one of three teams to commit to returning in 1998. [28] [29] Several teams moved to other indoor soccer leagues, but the SeaDogs elected to remain independent as its ownership explored various options. [30] In June 1998, Clavijo accepted an offer to become head coach of the Florida ThunderCats of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). [31]

Arena

KeyArena, the home venue of the Seattle SeaDogs from 1996 to 1997 KeyArena (2890740573).jpg
KeyArena, the home venue of the Seattle SeaDogs from 1996 to 1997

The SeaDogs signed a three-year lease agreement with the Seattle city government to use two public facilities: Seattle Center Arena (now known as Mercer Arena) in 1995 and KeyArena from 1996 to 1997. Both arenas were located on the grounds of the Seattle Center; due to the ongoing redevelopment of Seattle Center Coliseum, its successor KeyArena was unavailable for the opening season. [32] Seattle Center Arena had 4,055 seats, [7] while KeyArena had a capacity of 14,545 seats. [33]

Ownership and management

Like several other teams in the CISL, the SeaDogs shared ownership with a National Basketball Association team in the same market. [6] The Ackerley Group, headed by media magnate Barry Ackerley, owned the SeaDogs and the SuperSonics. [34] [35] The teams were overseen by Full House Sports and Entertainment, a marketing subsidiary of the group. [11] Home SeaDogs matches were broadcast on radio station KJR AM, also owned by the Ackerley Group, with play-by-play commentary by John Lynch. [8] [36]

Fernando Clavijo was head coach of the SeaDogs in all three of their seasons. Brian Schmetzer was an assistant coach and player; he later took over the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division and their Major League Soccer incarnation. [37] [38]

Year-by-year

Seattle SeaDogs seasons
YearRecordRegular seasonPlayoffsAvg. attendance
199512–164th, WesternDid not qualify2,341
199611–174th, WesternDid not qualify3,812
199721–71st, WesternChampions2,769
Total44–40  2,974

Honors

CISL Championship

CISL Goalkeeper of the Year

CISL Coach of the Year

CISL Championship Series MVP

All-CISL First Team

CISL All Star Game MVP

Players

The SeaDogs primarily used American players, including several who had played for the Sounders and the indoor Tacoma Stars. Among them were player–coach Brian Schmetzer, top goalscorer Jean Harbor, and forward John Olu-Molomo. [10] Goalkeeper Juan de la O was named CISL Goalkeeper of the Year in 1996 and 1997. [39]

1997 roster

As of June 1997 [10]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
0 GK Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Juan de la O
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Nat Gonazlez
2 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Todd Woodhouse
3 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tom Bialek
4 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Todd Stauber
5 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Seth Spidahl
6 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Dave Mattson
7 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Dick McCormick
8DF/MFFlag of Spain.svg  ESP Camilo Casal
9 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bruce Broughton
10 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA John Olu-Molomo
11MF/FWFlag of the United States.svg  USA Shane Decker
No.Pos.NationPlayer
12 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA John Purtteman
13MF/FWFlag of the United States.svg  USA David Wheeler
14 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jason Dunn
15MF/FWFlag of the United States.svg  USA Victor Bychov
17 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bill Crook
18 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jean Harbor
19 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Shannon Murray
20 MF Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Rafael Garcia
21 DF Flag of Argentina.svg  ARG Gaston Pernia
22MF/FWFlag of Argentina.svg  ARG Marcelo Fontana
30 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tim Babcock

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continental Indoor Soccer League</span> Indoor soccer league

The Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) was a professional indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preki</span> American soccer player and coach

Predrag Radosavljević, better known by the nickname Preki, is a former soccer player and coach. He is currently an assistant coach with Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). He previously coached Sacramento Republic FC and Saint Louis FC in the United Soccer League and coached in MLS with Toronto FC and Chivas USA. Born in Yugoslavia, he represented the United States national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fernando Clavijo</span> Uruguayan-American soccer player and coach (1956–2019)

Fernando Caetano Clavijo Cedrés was a Uruguayan-American soccer defender and former head coach of the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He played three seasons in the American Soccer League, two in the North American Soccer League and ten in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned 61 caps with the United States men's national soccer team and eight with the U.S. national futsal team. He later coached both indoor and outdoor teams as well as at the national team level with Nigeria and Haiti. He was a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and is a 2014 inductee into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Houston Hotshots</span> Football club

The Houston Hotshots are a professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They play in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) From 1994 to 1997 and 2000–2001, the Houston Hotshots were a full professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) from 1994 to 1997, and moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999 after the CISL folded. The Hotshots folded in early 2001 after failing to attract new investors. On June 28, 2015, William Alsobrook filed the necessary paperwork to revive the club and announced his intention to field a team in the upcoming Premier Arena Soccer League season.

Ralph Black is a Scottish-American retired soccer defender who spent most of his career in indoor soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Schmetzer</span> American soccer coach and retired player (born 1962)

Brian Thomas Schmetzer is an American soccer coach and former professional soccer player. He is the head coach of the Seattle Sounders FC, who play in Major League Soccer (MLS), having been assistant coach for the team until Sigi Schmid's departure in 2016. Prior to that, he coached the Seattle Sounders in the USL First Division for seven seasons, winning two championships, and played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer League for various Seattle teams.

Paul Dougherty is an English former professional soccer player and soccer coach who began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England. He then moved to the United States where he became a journeyman player, bouncing through sixteen teams in multiple indoor and outdoor leagues.

Jean Harbor is a former Nigerian American soccer forward who played for numerous teams in Nigeria and the U.S. He earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team after becoming a U.S. citizen in 1992.

Andy M. Schmetzer is a former U.S. soccer midfielder and indoor soccer coach.

Jason Dunn is a retired American soccer forward who is currently the head coach of USL League Two club Oly Town FC. He was the 1994 American Professional Soccer League and the 1996-1997 National Professional Soccer League Rookies of the Year. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterrey La Raza (1992–2001)</span> Mexican indoor soccer club

The original Monterrey La Raza was a professional indoor soccer team based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. The team was founded on December 29, 1992, as a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. After the CISL folded, the La Raza took one season off and attempted to join the National Professional Soccer League before joining the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded after it was expelled from the WISL before the 2001 season due to the lack of progress on building Arena Monterrey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Sounders (1994–2008)</span> Former American soccer team

The Seattle Sounders were an American professional soccer team that was founded in 1994 and played in several second-division leagues, beginning with the American Professional Soccer League. They played in the A-League, later renamed the USL First Division, from 1997 to 2008. The team was named for the Seattle Sounders of the North American Soccer League (NASL), which folded in 1983. The Sounders folded after the 2008 season as part of a transition to a new Major League Soccer (MLS) team named Seattle Sounders FC that debuted in 2009.

Billy Crook is a former U.S. soccer defender who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League, eight in Major Indoor Soccer League, two in the Western Soccer Alliance, at least two in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, and four in the American Professional Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team. He currently coaches youth soccer in Sumner, Washington.

Mirko Castillo was a Peruvian soccer forward who spent his entire professional career in the United States. He played two seasons in the American Soccer League, tying Ricardo Alonso as the 1990 league leading scorer. He then played two seasons in the American Professional Soccer League and over a dozen years playing in five indoor leagues.

Dick McCormick is a former American soccer player and current youth soccer coach. McCormick played as a midfielder in six indoor and outdoor leagues over his fourteen-year professional career. He has served as an assistant coach with the Seattle Sounders and head coach of the Sounders W-League women's team in the 2000s. He is currently the Director of Coaching with the Crossfire Premier soccer club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Adair (soccer)</span> American soccer player and coach (born 1971)

Charles "Chugger" Adair is a retired American soccer player and current soccer coach. He spent two seasons in the Continental Indoor Soccer League, two in the National Professional Soccer League and seven in the USISL A-League / USL First Division.

Rick Brian Blubaugh is an American former Professional Soccer Player. He spent four seasons in the Western Soccer Alliance, one in the Major Indoor Soccer League and one in the Continental Indoor Soccer League.

Juan de la O is a Mexican indoor soccer goalkeeper who played in several U.S. indoor leagues. He was the 1997 Continental Indoor Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year.

Trevor Dawkins is an English retired professional footballer who played as a defender or midfielder. He spent seven seasons in the Football League, five in South Africa, and seven in the United States, most in indoor leagues. Following his retirement in 1985, he coached for fourteen years in the U.S. indoor leagues. He was the 1986 AISA Coach of the Year, 1991 MISL Coach of the Year and 1996 CISL Coach of the Year.

John Olu-Molomo is a retired American soccer defender who played professionally in the Continental Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.

References

  1. Peoples, John (November 17, 1993). "Sonics stake out turf with soccer franchise". The Seattle Times . p. C1.
  2. Lawrence, John (January 9, 1993). "No soccer in Tacoma for 1993". The News Tribune . p. E1. Retrieved January 1, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  3. Anderson, Lenny (November 16, 1994). "SeaDogs unveil selves, coach for '95 debut". Seattle Post-Intelligencer . p. C3.
  4. Smith, Craig (June 24, 1996). "SeaDogs add more bite". The Seattle Times. p. F5.
  5. Knight, Bill (February 7, 1995). "Soccer storms Seattle area". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1.
  6. 1 2 Smith, Craig (June 5, 1995). "Few attend scrimmage for SeaDogs". The Seattle Times. p. D6.
  7. 1 2 Anderson, Lenny (June 24, 1995). "SeaDogs win debut on Collins' OT goal". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C4.
  8. 1 2 3 Spencer, Sheldon (August 15, 1995). "Fans wanted: Sounders, SeaDogs struggle in sharing the Seattle market". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1.
  9. Smith, Craig (June 14, 1996). "SeaDog preview: Questions loom over firepower". The Seattle Times. p. C9. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Brandon, Rachel (June 13, 1997). "SeaDogs brimming with familiarity". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. E2.
  11. 1 2 Bruscas, Angelo (October 29, 1996). "Tight at the top: Glut of pro teams makes it difficult to win at box office". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D1.
  12. "SeaDogs wrap up season with win". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. September 30, 1996. p. C3.
  13. "De La O named CISL's top goalkeeper". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 10, 1996. p. D5.
  14. Smith, Craig (June 14, 1997). "High hopes for SeaDogs". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. Langdon, Jerry (July 10, 1997). "SeaDogs open season with 6-0 run". USA Today . p. 14C.
  16. Swesey, Ben (July 13, 1997). "Drago lifts Knights again". The Sacramento Bee . p. C2. Retrieved January 1, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  17. "Seattle is top dog again in CISL". The Seattle Times. August 22, 1997. p. C5.
  18. Guadagnoli, Tony (October 22, 1997). "'Slim chance' that SeaDogs won't return in '98". The Seattle Times. p. C5.
  19. Nolen, John (October 4, 1997). "Seattle crushes Pride 8-2". The Oregonian . p. C2.
  20. Brandon, Rachel (October 6, 1997). "SeaDogs beat Portland, win series". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D3.
  21. Swesey, Ben (October 12, 1997). "On the brink". The Sacramento Bee. p. C7. Retrieved January 1, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  22. Brandon, Rachel (October 13, 1997). "SeaDogs reach CISL finals with second-round sweep". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D3.
  23. 1 2 Wade, Susan (October 19, 1997). "SeaDogs edge Hotshots 6-5 in overtime". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. C3.
  24. Rice, Micah (October 19, 1997). "SeaDogs rally, win thriller". The News Tribune. p. C3. Retrieved January 1, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 3 Duarte, Joseph (October 20, 1997). "SeaDogs sweep past Hotshots". Houston Chronicle . p. 1.
  26. 1 2 Guadagnoli, Tony (October 18, 1997). "CISL Finals: Season of sacrifice ending in rewards". The Seattle Times. p. B5.
  27. Baroni, Marc (October 20, 1997). "SeaDogs scorch Hotshots to win indoor league title". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. E3.
  28. Almond, Elliott (December 24, 1997). "With CISL dead, SeaDogs weigh their options to keep kicking". The Seattle Times. p. C1. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  29. "SeaDogs in limbo without a league". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. September 24, 1997. p. E4.
  30. DeMasio, Nunyo (April 24, 1998). "For Ackerley, 'NBA Champions' has nice ring to it". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  31. "SeaDogs coach takes NPSL job". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. June 9, 1998. p. D7.
  32. Bruscas, Angelo (June 15, 1995). "SeaDogs, city agree on lease of arenas". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D3.
  33. "1997 CISL preview". Los Angeles Times . June 20, 1997. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  34. Rice, Micah (July 5, 1997). "SeaDogs come home on a roll". The News Tribune. p. C2. Retrieved January 1, 2023 via Newspapers.com.
  35. Tillery, Ronald (October 31, 1997). "Mellowing Ackerley yearns for NBA title". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. E6.
  36. Spencer, Sheldon (June 5, 1995). "Former U.S. soccer team coach considers parting 'right thing'". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. D2.
  37. Massey, Matt (November 30, 2001). "Schmetzer to push young, local talent". The Seattle Times. p. D7. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  38. Pentz, Matt (November 4, 2016). "Five meetings that shaped newly-minted Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer's career". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  39. 1 2 3 4 5 "Honors continue for De La O". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. October 23, 1997. p. C6.
  40. "SeaDog named MVP in West win". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. July 30, 1997. p. D6.