# 2012 Minnesota Stars FC season

The 2012 Minnesota Stars FC season was the club's third year of existence and their first season under the simple moniker Minnesota Stars after being called NSC Minnesota Stars for their first two seasons of existence. The team played in the North American Soccer League, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, for the second consecutive year.
Outside of NASL play, the Stars competed in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup, reaching the fourth round before losing to the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

## Background

The Minnesota Stars FC Started the 2012 Regular season as the defending NASL Champions. The home opener was scheduled at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome vs the defending NASL regular season champions, the Carolina RailHawks.
The Stars were still leagued owned at the start of the season; this could have meant that the 2012 season could have been the last season for the franchise.
On November 8, 2012, NASL announced that Dr. William McGuire would be the new owner of the Stars, saving the Stars from possible contraction.

## Roster

    As of match played October 27, 2012
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Mitch Hildebrandt | GK | (1988-11-12)12 November 1988 (aged 23) | Oakland Golden Grizzlies | 2012 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | Matt Van Oekel | GK | (1986-09-20)20 September 1986 (aged 26) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | 41 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Justin Davis | DF | (1988-05-06)6 May 1988 (aged 24) | New Mexico Lobos | 2011 | 60 | 2 |
| 3 | Cristiano | DF | (1986-05-25)25 May 1986 (aged 26) | Miami | 2011 | 44 | 1 |
| 5 | Edi Buro | DF | (1987-09-19)19 September 1987 (aged 25) | Travnik | 2012 | | |
| 6 | Kevin Friedland | DF | (1981-10-03)3 October 1981 (aged 31) | Kansas City Wizards | 2004 | 33 | 1 |
| 14 | Brian Kallman | DF | (1984-04-23)23 April 1984 (aged 28) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | 64 | 1 |
| 15 | Evan Sassano | DF | (1987-11-22)22 November 1987 (aged 24) | | 2012 | | |
| 16 | Kyle Altman | DF | (1986-01-31)31 January 1986 (aged 26) | Minnesota Thunder | 2010 | | |
| 20 | Connor Tobin | DF | (1987-02-11)11 February 1987 (aged 25) | Rochester Rhinos | 2012 | | |
| 28 | Ernest Tchoupe | DF | (1987-12-23)23 December 1987 (aged 24) | Expreso Rojo | 2012 | | |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 4 | Neil Hlavaty | MF | (1986-12-27)27 December 1986 (aged 25) | Jagiellonia Białystok | 2010 | 85 | 13 |
| 8 | Daniel Wasson | MF | (1984-06-15)15 June 1984 (aged 28) | VfL Osnabrück | 2010 | | |
| 13 | Kentaro Takada | MF | (1983-04-13)13 April 1983 (aged 29) | Rochester Thunder | 2010 | | |
| 19 | Shawn Chin | MF | (1989-05-11)11 May 1989 (aged 23) | Edmonton | 2012 | | |
| 22 | Kevin Venegas | MF | (1989-07-29)29 July 1989 (aged 23) | Fullerton Titans | 2010 | 23 | 2 |
| 23 | Miguel Ibarra | MF | (1990-03-15)15 March 1990 (aged 22) | UC Irvine Anteaters | 2012 | 31 | 5 |
| 24 | Michael Reed | MF | (1987-10-28)28 October 1987 (aged 24) | PSC Soccer Academy | 2012 | | |
| 32 | Lucas Rodríguez | MF | (1986-02-08)8 February 1986 (aged 26) | Kansas City Brass | 2010 | | |
| 77 | Andy Lorei | MF | (1989-03-25)25 March 1989 (aged 23) | Real Maryland | 2011 | | |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Fuad Ibrahim | FW | (1991-08-15)15 August 1991 (aged 21) | | 2012 | | |
| 9 | Martin Nuñez | FW | (1987-02-02)2 February 1987 (aged 25) | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 2012 | | |
| 10 | Simone Bracalello | FW | (1985-10-21)21 October 1985 (aged 27) | | 2010 | 83 | 20 |
| 11 | Amani Walker | FW | (1989-12-16)16 December 1989 (aged 22) | Orange County Blue Star | 2011 | 48 | 10 |
| 17 | Geison Moura | MF | (1986-07-16)16 July 1986 (aged 26) | Rockford Rampage | 2010 | | |
| 21 | Devin Del Do | FW | (1986-05-21)21 May 1986 (aged 26) | | 2010 | | |
| 26 | Travis Wall | FW | (1990-01-04)4 January 1990 (aged 22) | Columbus Crew | 2012 | | |
| Players away on loan ||||||||||
| Players who left during the season ||||||||||

### Staff
## Transfers
### Winter

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Mitch Hildebrandt (from Oakland Golden Grizzlies) |
| 5 | DF | BIH | Edi Buro (from Travnik) |
| 7 | FW | ETH | Fuad Ibrahim |
| 9 | FW | URU | Martin Nuñez (from Fort Lauderdale Strikers) |
| 15 | DF | USA | Evan Sassano |
| 19 | MF | USA | Shawn Chin (from Edmonton) |
| 20 | DF | USA | Connor Tobin (from Rochester Rhinos) |
| 22 | MF | USA | Kevin Venegas (from Fullerton Titans) |
| 23 | MF | USA | Miguel Ibarra (from UC Irvine Anteaters) |
| 24 | DF | USA | Michael Reed (from PSC Soccer Academy) |
| 26 | FW | USA | Travis Wall |
| 28 | DF | CMR | Ernest Tchoupe (from Expreso Rojo) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | USA | Joe Warren (Retired) |
| 7 | MF | BLR | Andrei Gotsmanov |
| 9 | FW | USA | Tino Nuñez (to Pittsburgh Riverhounds) |
| 10 | MF | LBR | Sandy Gbandi |
| 11 | DF | USA | Chris Clements |
| 15 | DF | USA | John Gilkerson |
| 18 | MF | USA | Jeff Cosgriff |
| 20 | FW | USA | Brian Cvilikas |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Ryan Woods (to Carshalton Athletic) |
| 25 | FW | USA | Anthony Hamilton |
| 26 | MF | USA | Ely Allen |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Luke Mulholland (to Tampa Bay Rowdies) |

### Summer

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |

## Competitions
### NASL
#### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 4 | Carolina RailHawks | 28 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 44 | 46 | −2 | 40 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 5 | Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 36 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 6 | Minnesota United | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 34 | 33 | +1 | 35 | Playoff quarterfinals |
| 7 | Atlanta Silverbacks | 28 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 30 | |
| 8 | FC Edmonton | 28 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 26 | 36 | −10 | 25 | |

#### Results
### U.S. Open Cup
## Squad statistics

    As of Match played October 26, 2012

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | NASL | NASL | NASL Playoffs | NASL Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | USA | Mitch Hildebrandt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | USA | Justin Davis | 32 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | BRA | Cristiano | 21 | 1 | 17+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | USA | Neil Hlavaty | 32 | 3 | 23+1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 5 | MF | BIH | Edi Buro | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | USA | Kevin Friedland | 8 | 1 | 5+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | USA | Fuad Ibrahim | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | USA | Daniel Wasson | 8 | 0 | 4+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | URU | Martin Nuñez | 28 | 6 | 16+9 | 5 | 0+3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ITA | Simone Bracalello | 31 | 8 | 15+8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | FW | JAM | Amani Walker | 29 | 9 | 16+5 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 12 | MF | USA | Jamie Watson | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | JPN | Kentaro Takada | 29 | 2 | 22+2 | 2 | 2+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | USA | Brian Kallman | 32 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | USA | Evan Sassano | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | USA | Kyle Altman | 25 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | BRA | Geison Moura | 5 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | USA | Shawn Chin | 5 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | USA | Connor Tobin | 16 | 0 | 9+2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | USA | Devin Del Do | 18 | 2 | 5+11 | 2 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | USA | Kevin Venegas | 23 | 2 | 15+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | USA | Miguel Ibarra | 31 | 5 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 24 | MF | USA | Michael Reed | 7 | 0 | 6+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | USA | Nate Polak | 7 | 1 | 3+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | USA | Travis Wall | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | DF | CMR | Ernest Tchoupe | 11 | 1 | 9+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | GK | USA | Matt Van Oekel | 33 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | USA | Lucas Rodríguez | 20 | 1 | 11+5 | 0 | 3+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | MF | USA | Andy Lorei | 4 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who left NSC Minnesota Stars during the season: ||||||||||||

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Nation | Number | Name | NASL | NASL Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | | 11 | Amani Walker | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | FW | | 10 | Simone Bracalello | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | FW | | 9 | Martin Nuñez | 5 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | MF | | 23 | Miguel Ibarra | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | MF | | 4 | Neil Hlavaty | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | | 13 | Kentaro Takada | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | FW | | 21 | Devin Del Do | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | | 22 | Kevin Venegas | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | DF | | 16 | Kyle Altman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | DF | | 2 | Justin Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | DF | | 28 | Ernest Tchoupe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | DF | | 3 | Cristiano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | | 25 | Nate Polak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | MF | | 12 | Jamie Watson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | DF | | 6 | Kevin Friedland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | MF | | 32 | Lucas Rodríguez | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | | | | Own goal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 34 | 7 | 5 | 46 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | NASL | NASL | NASL Playoffs | NASL Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup | U.S. Open Cup | Total | Total |
| 2 | DF | Justin Davis | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Cristiano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | MF | Neil Hlavaty | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Kevin Friedland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Fuad Ibrahim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Martin Nuñez | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Simone Bracalello | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 13 | MF | Kentaro Takada | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Brian Kallman | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Evan Sassano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Kyle Altman | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Connor Tobin | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | Devin Del Do | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | Kevin Venegas | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | MF | Miguel Ibarra | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | DF | Ernest Tchoupe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | Lucas Rodríguez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 41 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 53 | 3 |