Peter Woodring
Encyclopedia
Peter Woodring is a retired U.S. soccer forward
. He spent most of his career in the lower U.S. and German divisions. However, he did spend one season in Major League Soccer
with the New England Revolution
. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team
in 1993.
at Berkeley
, better known as "Cal", from 1986 to 1990. In 1987 and 1990, he was selected to the All Far West teams, and was the team's MVP in 1987, 1989 and 1990. He holds Cal's season record for most assists with 12 and is the school's fourth highest scorer with 22 goals.
He received his B.A.
in International Business.
In 1989, during the college soccer off-season, Woodring played a single season with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
of the Western Soccer League
(WSL). The Blackhawks, along with several other teams in the WSL were essentially semi-pro teams and many top west coast college players played in the league when not playing NCAA soccer.
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). After briefly flourishing in 1990, by 1991 the APSL had less than half the teams remaining from the 1990 season. When one of his college team mates suggested that Woodring pursue a professional career in stable European leagues rather than in the United States he left for Germany for a fall 1991 trial with SV Wiesbaden
of the German Third Division
. Woodring played through the 1991-1992 season with Wiesbaden, where scouts from First Division
Hamburger SV
noticed him.
In 1992, Woodring signed with Hamburger SV. However, he had difficulty finding regular playing time with the first team, seeing time in only 6 matches in 1992-1993 and a few more at the start of the 1993-1994 season. However, he played most of his games with Hamburger SV's amateur reserve team.
With the possibility of finding regular playing time appearing low, Woodring moved to Danish
club Aalborg BK for the last half of the 1993-94 season and the first half of the 1994-95 season. His performances helped propel the club into first place of the Danish Superliga
championship, but Woodring left the club halfway through the season, before Aalborg BK eventually won the Danish Superliga 1994-95
title.
He returned to Germany to again play Third Division
ball, this time with SV Wehen
. He would play 11 games with the team through the end of the 1994-1995 season.
of the USISL
. The New England Revolution
selected Woodring in the second round of the inaugural MLS draft
(15th overall).
He played 21 games, scoring 1 goal, in the 1996 season. On March 10, 1997 The Revs released Woodring during the 1997 preseason, despite his having scored a goal in an exhibition game three days before.
After leaving the Revs, Woodring moved to Marin, California to become a financial analyst. While there, he became an assistant coach on the Berkeley
men's soccer team starting in September 1998. He also briefly played with the Chico Rooks
of the United Soccer League
. In 2000, he scored 4 goals for the Olympic Club of the San Francisco Soccer Football League's Major Division.http://www.sfsfl.com/season/2000/Y2000te.html#OLY In 2003, he played for the Marin Soccer League's Bolinas Team.
in 1993. One game came as a substitute, at the 69th minute in the 1993 U.S. Cup
loss to Brazil
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He spent most of his career in the lower U.S. and German divisions. However, he did spend one season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
with the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1993.
Collegiate career
Peter Woodring played college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, better known as "Cal", from 1986 to 1990. In 1987 and 1990, he was selected to the All Far West teams, and was the team's MVP in 1987, 1989 and 1990. He holds Cal's season record for most assists with 12 and is the school's fourth highest scorer with 22 goals.
He received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in International Business.
In 1989, during the college soccer off-season, Woodring played a single season with the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks
San Francisco Bay Blackhawks was a professional soccer team which came into existence in 1989 as a team in the Western Soccer League . The Blackhawks spent time in the American Professional Soccer League and the United States Interregional Soccer League...
of the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
(WSL). The Blackhawks, along with several other teams in the WSL were essentially semi-pro teams and many top west coast college players played in the league when not playing NCAA soccer.
Years in Europe
When he graduated, the WSL had merged with the east-coast based American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). After briefly flourishing in 1990, by 1991 the APSL had less than half the teams remaining from the 1990 season. When one of his college team mates suggested that Woodring pursue a professional career in stable European leagues rather than in the United States he left for Germany for a fall 1991 trial with SV Wiesbaden
SV Wiesbaden
SV Wiesbaden is a German football club based in Wiesbaden, Hesse. The team was disbanded in 1994 as the result of financial problems, but was rebuilt and currently plays in the Verbandsliga Hessen-Mitte . Their home games are played in the Helmut-Schön-Sportpark.- History :A football section was...
of the German Third Division
Regionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
. Woodring played through the 1991-1992 season with Wiesbaden, where scouts from First Division
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
noticed him.
In 1992, Woodring signed with Hamburger SV. However, he had difficulty finding regular playing time with the first team, seeing time in only 6 matches in 1992-1993 and a few more at the start of the 1993-1994 season. However, he played most of his games with Hamburger SV's amateur reserve team.
With the possibility of finding regular playing time appearing low, Woodring moved to Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
club Aalborg BK for the last half of the 1993-94 season and the first half of the 1994-95 season. His performances helped propel the club into first place of the Danish Superliga
Danish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
championship, but Woodring left the club halfway through the season, before Aalborg BK eventually won the Danish Superliga 1994-95
Danish Superliga 1994-95
The 1994-95 Danish Superliga season was the 5th season of the Danish Superliga league championship, governed by the Danish Football Association....
title.
He returned to Germany to again play Third Division
Regionalliga (football)
The Fußball-Regionalliga is the fourth tier of football in the German football league system. Until 1974, it was the second tier of the league system before being disbanded. The Regionalliga was then re-introduced as the third tier of the system in 1994...
ball, this time with SV Wehen
SV Wehen
SV Wehen Wiesbaden is a German association football club based in Wiesbaden, Hesse.-History:Since the beginning of the 07–08 season the club plays its homegames in nearby Wiesbaden and no longer in Taunusstein...
. He would play 11 games with the team through the end of the 1994-1995 season.
Return to the United States
In 1995, Woodring returned to the United States. He played with the Hawaii TsunamiHawaii Tsunami
The Hawaii Tsunami were a soccer club that competed in the United Soccer Leaguesfrom 1994 to 1997. The club was based in Honolulu, Hawaii.-Year-by-year:...
of the USISL
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
. The New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
selected Woodring in the second round of the inaugural MLS draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
(15th overall).
He played 21 games, scoring 1 goal, in the 1996 season. On March 10, 1997 The Revs released Woodring during the 1997 preseason, despite his having scored a goal in an exhibition game three days before.
After leaving the Revs, Woodring moved to Marin, California to become a financial analyst. While there, he became an assistant coach on the Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
men's soccer team starting in September 1998. He also briefly played with the Chico Rooks
Chico Rooks
The Chico Rooks was an American soccer team, founded in 1993 by Guido Barbero. The team was a member of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006...
of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. In 2000, he scored 4 goals for the Olympic Club of the San Francisco Soccer Football League's Major Division.http://www.sfsfl.com/season/2000/Y2000te.html#OLY In 2003, he played for the Marin Soccer League's Bolinas Team.
National team
Based on initial success with Hamburger SV, Woodring was called up for three games for the US national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1993. One game came as a substitute, at the 69th minute in the 1993 U.S. Cup
United States Cup
U.S. Cup was a soccer cup held annually in the United States from 1991 to 2000, except for the World Cup years of 1994 and 1998...
loss to Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
.