Topic: Seattle Eagles 1987 US Open Cup Runners Up (Read 1,058 times)
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Seattle Eagles 1987 US Open Cup Runners Up « Thread Started on Jul 10, 2008, 4:13pm »
Got this email today...
I noticed that a team called the Seattle Eagles lost in the 1987 final of the US. Open Cup. Do you know anything about this team? I cannot find anything anywhere on the Internet about them other than a youth club, but given the current Sounders run in the tournament, it'd be cool to catch up on this unknown piece of Seattle soccer history..
Anyone know anything about the 1987 Seattle Eagles?
Re: Seattle Eagles 1987 US Open Cup Runners Up « Reply #1 on Jul 10, 2008, 9:30pm »
I searched through everything I could find last year and spoke to several people folks who I'm told were big in the Soccer Community at that time, but nobody had ever heard of this team.
EAGLES HAVE BIG SOCCER DATE AHEAD, BUT NO FIELD TO MATCH WORLD CLUB CUP MATCH MAY BE PLAYED AT SHORELINE STADIUM By Jack Smith P-I Reporter MONDAY, February 15, 1988 Section: Sports, Page: D7 The Seattle Mitre Eagles are going international this season, shooting for entry into the World Club Cup soccer tournament. Problem is, their match with Mexico's prestigious Cruz Azul is a home-and-home affair.
Cruz Azul's residence is 108,499-seat Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, site of last year's World Cup soccer, while the Eagles play in the State Premier League, which uses high school stadiums like Shoreline's.
"Our players are proud and they don't want to play both games in Mexico, they want to play here where they live," said team manager Mike Mikacenic. "The players want to play before their own fans even if there aren't that many."
The first game with Cruz Azul is tentatively scheduled in Azteca Stadium for May 11, the beginning of the Seattle club's pursuit of the CONCACAF Cup and entry into the World Club Cup Tournament. The return match will be held in Seattle June 1, with aggregate scores determining the winner.
But just where has yet to be decided. Seattle Center's Memorial Stadium, which could accommodate nearly 15,000 fans, can be used although its dimensions are less than the international requirements of 110 feet long by 70 feet wide. The Seattle center facility is only 58 feet wide and abuts hard cement, according to soccer enthusiast Bill Barry.
Shoreline, where most Eagles games are attended by wives, girlfriends and a few close friends on Sunday mornings, is just about right.
"We are sending a letter to Cruz Azul to see if they'll accept the smaller field and we should hear in about 20 days," Mikacenic said. "We would like to play in Memorial Stadium. We would really like to play in the Kingdome but that's too much money: You're talking about roughly $7,000.
"So, yes, there's a chance we will be left with Shoreline."
Cruz Azul, founded in 1932, is an eight-time Mexican First Division professional champion that has three times won the CONCACAF Cup, signifying the best of North and Central America and the Caribbean countries.
The roster of the Mexican First Division team is graced by four international players and it is competitive with world-class clubs like Santos of Brazil, Spain's Real Madrid, Juventis of Italy and Liverpool.
There was some talk about playing the return game in Los Angeles, Eagles captain Eddie Krueger said, "and we'd probably draw 20,000 or 30,000 with the large Hispanic population being an ethnic attraction, but it would be like playing two away games.
"We want to win this thing, even without the luxury of fans."
The Eagles, who mostly pay their own way while holding down full-time jobs to support their families, have been among the top four club teams in the United States National Soccer Finals in the last six years. But this next step to World Cup Club Soccer is a huge one.
"I believe that American players have the skill and talent to play with the best in the world and foreign coaches can help them," said Mikacenic, who began his life-long love affair with soccer in his native Croatia and kept it alive when he moved to Seattle in 1969.
The Eagles, who receive some help from the Mitre Co., a sportswear manufacturer, and the fraternal order whose name they also carry, range in age from 16-year-old defender Jeff Barry to 32-year-old midfielder Jose Reyes, and in experience from amateur to U.S. National team and professional soccer veterans.
Krueger, 28, played for the Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps and San Diego Sockers. He tired of the pros, not the game.
"I sort of left with a bad taste in my mouth," he said. "I don't miss all the pressure the coaches exerted on us. I find amateur soccer really refreshing, playing for the joy of the game, not the money."
Krueger is an electrical engineer in Bothell and travels to games on weekends, usually at his own expense. As the game in Mexico City approaches, the training regimen escalates.
"We're looking for the right playing combinations now but about a month and half before the game in Mexico, we start intensive training," Krueger said. "We'll go at it about four times a week."
The Eagles' first order of business is defending their championship in the improving State Premier League. They're unbeaten and unscored upon six games into the 10-game schedule, the latest a 1-0 win yesterday over F.C. Bedrock.
But this is also a time for structuring a team that will challenge one of the world's elite club teams.
"There are some very good teams in this league and while we need to look at various player combinations," said defender Tony Crudo, "we can't afford to take anything for granted or we'll find ourselves on the wrong end of the score.
"But I guess I'd rather sort it out here than in Mexico City."
Which brings the Eagles back to the problem of a home playing site. "Mexico will be a grand experience for our players," Krueger said, "but it might be a little letdown for the Mexican team when it gets up here."
This article contained at least one photo or illustration as described below:
Type: PHOTO
Description: JOANIE KOMURA -- Defender Tony Crudo, one of four ex-Sounders with Seattle Mitre Eagles, goes airborne against Gulf United. "There are some very good teams in this league," Crudo says of the State Premier League.
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Re: Seattle Eagles 1987 US Open Cup Runners Up « Reply #3 on Jul 11, 2008, 7:58am »
Frank MacDonald has more for us...
That team was comprised mostly of ex-SPU/UW players, plus some from the FC Seattle fold. To drop some names: Eddie Krueger, John Klein, Scott Cairns, Mike Hiatt, Craig Christopherson (gk), David Wittrell, Glenn Lurie, Steve Englebrick and Andy Churlin (I believe he played in the Sounders’ strike team of ‘79), who hit the bar for the closest scoring chance for either team. Klein had won the semifinal, 5-4 (ot) over Busch in the 119th minute.
A lot of the same guys were on the amateur cup finalists of that era, Seattle Croatia (winners in 82) and Mitre Eagles (runnersup 85). The Murphy’s Pub squad of ‘93 (winners) ushered in the next wave of ex-SPU types, such as Hahnemann, Farrell and the Dunn twins.
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Joined: May 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 20,759 Location: The STATE of Soccer Karma: 29
Re: Seattle Eagles 1987 US Open Cup Runners Up « Reply #5 on Jul 14, 2008, 6:04am »
I forgot to mention that as ‘87 runners-up, the Eagles qualified for the ‘88 CONCACAF Champions Cup. They opened v Cruz Azul, got hammered 9-0 away but came back to Memorial and drew 0-0.
I noticed that a team called the Seattle Eagles lost in the 1987 final of the US. Open Cup. Do you know anything about this team? I cannot find anything anywhere on the Internet about them other than a youth club, but given the current Sounders run in the tournament, it'd be cool to catch up on this unknown piece of Seattle soccer history..
Anyone know anything about the 1987 Seattle Eagles?
I noticed that a team called the Seattle Eagles lost in the 1987 final of the US. Open Cup. Do you know anything about this team? I cannot find anything anywhere on the Internet about them other than a youth club, but given the current Sounders run in the tournament, it'd be cool to catch up on this unknown piece of Seattle soccer history..
Anyone know anything about the 1987 Seattle Eagles?
I can help you regarding the Seattle Eagles. I played on that team for a couple of Years. What do you need to know?
I noticed that a team called the Seattle Eagles lost in the 1987 final of the US. Open Cup. Do you know anything about this team? I cannot find anything anywhere on the Internet about them other than a youth club, but given the current Sounders run in the tournament, it'd be cool to catch up on this unknown piece of Seattle soccer history..
Anyone know anything about the 1987 Seattle Eagles?
I can help you regarding the Seattle Eagles. I played on that team for a couple of Years. What do you need to know?
I'd love to hear more about the trip to Mexico & home game and some of your most memorable experiences on the team.
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