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Paul Hunter (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Hunter was a Canadian-born soccer defender
who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League
.
grew up in Westport, Connecticut
where he attended Staples High School
. Staples won the 1971 Connecticut state championship Hunter’s junior. While the team repeated as champions in 1972, Hunter shattered his leg mid-season, putting him out for the rest of the year. He then attended the University of Connecticut
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1974 to 1976. He was selected as an honourable mention (third team) All American in 1975 and a first team All American
his senior season. He was also team captain that season.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) in 1977. He played only three games and transferred to the Detroit Express
where he became a regular starter for two seasons. In 1980, he played only five games for the Express and in 1981, found himself with the Tulsa Roughnecks
where he played twenty games.
Hunter was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
.
High school and college
While born in Canada, Hunter and his brother TimTim Hunter (soccer)
Tim Hunter is a retired Canadian-American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League.Born in Canada, Hunter and his brother Paul grew up in Westport, Connecticut. In 1971, he graduated from Staples High School where he was a member of four consecutive state...
grew up in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
where he attended Staples High School
Staples High School
Staples High School is a public secondary school, that opened on April 26, 1884 located in the town of Westport, Connecticut, USA. Staples High School is named after its founder Horace Staples who founded the school in 1884. The school was first located at Riverside Ave. and moved to its current...
. Staples won the 1971 Connecticut state championship Hunter’s junior. While the team repeated as champions in 1972, Hunter shattered his leg mid-season, putting him out for the rest of the year. He then attended the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1974 to 1976. He was selected as an honourable mention (third team) All American in 1975 and a 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:...
his senior season. He was also team captain that season.
Professional
Hunter signed with the New York CosmosNew York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL) in 1977. He played only three games and transferred to the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
where he became a regular starter for two seasons. In 1980, he played only five games for the Express and in 1981, found himself with the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
where he played twenty games.
Hunter was inducted into the Connecticut Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.