Spokane Spiders
Encyclopedia
Spokane Spiders was an American soccer team based in Spokane, Washington
, United States
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The franchise folded at the end of the 2010 season and left the league thereafter.
The team played its home games at Joe Albi Stadium
. The team's colors were red, black and white.
that began with Spokane Shadow
in the mid-1990s. The Spiders, under head coach Dan Philp, began quite strongly, beating Tacoma Tide 3-2 and Cascade Surge
2-1 in their first competitive games. Spokane were generally strong at home for the duration of their freshman season, enjoying four more victories at Spokane Falls Community College
, but their form on the road was abysmal: they conceded 38 goals away from home while scoring just 7, and lost all of their 8 games on their travels. The nadir was a shocking 0-11 defeat to Abbotsford Mariners on the final day of the season, which left the Spiders in 5th place in the standings, 33 points behind divisional champions BYU Cougars. Jake Moug was by far Spokane's dominant player, scoring 11 of their 25 goals himself, while Ben Funkhouser contributed 4 assists.
Things went from bad to worse for Spokane in 2008. Despite the appointment of new head coach Abbas Faridnia, the Spiders lost their first game of the campaign 3-0 at home to Yakima Reds
; their next game was an impressive 5-2 win over Tacoma Tide on 'neutral territory' in Idaho which saw Jay Vela score a brace; unfortunately, this was the high point of the season. Spokane took just eight points the entire rest of the season - a 1-1 tie with Cascade Surge
, a battling 3-2 win over Yakima again, a 3-3 tie with Abbotsford Mariners, and a surprising 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
at home in their penultimate match of the season. Everything else was a struggle - Tacoma made up for their early season defeat with a 5-0 walloping at the end of May, Yakima put five past them in late June, and Cascade ended Spokane's season on a sour note with another 5-goal drubbing in the final game. Spokane were rooted to the bottom of the Northwest Division for much of the campaign, and finished three points adrift of Cascade in 8th place. Jay Vela was Spokane's top scorer, with just three goals, although Scott Davidson did tally four assists.
Jake Moug took over as head coach for the 2009 season, but things did not improve for the Spiders, who finished rock bottom of the Northwest Division for the second straight year, with just three wins and twelve goals all season long. The high points included a 3-1 win over the Seattle Wolves in early May in which the Spiders took control in the second half after the Wolves' Casey Cunningham was sent off, and the 3-2 win over the Abbotsford Mariners in June in which the Spiders held off two spirited comebacks by the Canadians and scored a 70th minute winner through substitute Tye Perdido, despite playing for over an hour with 10 men. Elsewhere, the Spokane defense was horribly leaky: they lost 5-0 and 6-1 to Kitsap Pumas
, 5-1 to Cascade Surge
, 6-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
, and conceded four goals on three other occasions. Zachary Smith was the token top scorer of a dispiriting year with just 3 goals.
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Logan Emory
Austin Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The franchise folded at the end of the 2010 season and left the league thereafter.
The team played its home games at Joe Albi Stadium
Joe Albi Stadium
Joe Albi Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Spokane, Washington. Primarily used for football, it is located in the northwest part of the city, just east of the Spokane River. It opened in 1950 as "Memorial Stadium," with a natural grass field, cinder running track, and a seating capacity of...
. The team's colors were red, black and white.
History
Spokane Spiders entered the PDL in 2007, continuing the tradition of top-level minor league soccer in Eastern WashingtonEastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
that began with Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow
Spokane Shadow was an American soccer team, founded in 1996. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2005, when the franchise was terminated by the PDL after the 10-year old artificial turf at their home...
in the mid-1990s. The Spiders, under head coach Dan Philp, began quite strongly, beating Tacoma Tide 3-2 and Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games...
2-1 in their first competitive games. Spokane were generally strong at home for the duration of their freshman season, enjoying four more victories at Spokane Falls Community College
Spokane Falls Community College
Spokane Falls Community College is part of the Community Colleges of Spokane.The college, also known as The Falls, opened in 1967 in west Spokane, south of Riverside State Park, on a campus....
, but their form on the road was abysmal: they conceded 38 goals away from home while scoring just 7, and lost all of their 8 games on their travels. The nadir was a shocking 0-11 defeat to Abbotsford Mariners on the final day of the season, which left the Spiders in 5th place in the standings, 33 points behind divisional champions BYU Cougars. Jake Moug was by far Spokane's dominant player, scoring 11 of their 25 goals himself, while Ben Funkhouser contributed 4 assists.
Things went from bad to worse for Spokane in 2008. Despite the appointment of new head coach Abbas Faridnia, the Spiders lost their first game of the campaign 3-0 at home to Yakima Reds
Yakima Reds
Yakima Reds was an American soccer team based in Yakima, Washington, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference...
; their next game was an impressive 5-2 win over Tacoma Tide on 'neutral territory' in Idaho which saw Jay Vela score a brace; unfortunately, this was the high point of the season. Spokane took just eight points the entire rest of the season - a 1-1 tie with Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games...
, a battling 3-2 win over Yakima again, a 3-3 tie with Abbotsford Mariners, and a surprising 3-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, formerly known as Whitecaps FC Reserves, is a Canadian soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although founded in 2005 as part of the development system for the Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division franchise, beginning in 2011 they are part of the...
at home in their penultimate match of the season. Everything else was a struggle - Tacoma made up for their early season defeat with a 5-0 walloping at the end of May, Yakima put five past them in late June, and Cascade ended Spokane's season on a sour note with another 5-goal drubbing in the final game. Spokane were rooted to the bottom of the Northwest Division for much of the campaign, and finished three points adrift of Cascade in 8th place. Jay Vela was Spokane's top scorer, with just three goals, although Scott Davidson did tally four assists.
Jake Moug took over as head coach for the 2009 season, but things did not improve for the Spiders, who finished rock bottom of the Northwest Division for the second straight year, with just three wins and twelve goals all season long. The high points included a 3-1 win over the Seattle Wolves in early May in which the Spiders took control in the second half after the Wolves' Casey Cunningham was sent off, and the 3-2 win over the Abbotsford Mariners in June in which the Spiders held off two spirited comebacks by the Canadians and scored a 70th minute winner through substitute Tye Perdido, despite playing for over an hour with 10 men. Elsewhere, the Spokane defense was horribly leaky: they lost 5-0 and 6-1 to Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas is an American soccer team based in Bremerton, Washington, United States. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.Kitsap are the reigning PDL champions,...
, 5-1 to Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games...
, 6-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, formerly known as Whitecaps FC Reserves, is a Canadian soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although founded in 2005 as part of the development system for the Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division franchise, beginning in 2011 they are part of the...
, and conceded four goals on three other occasions. Zachary Smith was the token top scorer of a dispiriting year with just 3 goals.
Final roster
This list is a historical record of the final group of players on the last Spiders roster for their final game in August 2010. Source: http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2010/6188407.html#ROSTERNotable former players
- See also: All-time Spokane Spiders rosterAll-time Spokane Spiders rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Spokane Spiders since the team's first season in the USL Premier Development League in 2007...
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.
Logan Emory
Logan Emory
Logan Emory is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League.-Youth and Amateur:...
Austin Washington
Austin Washington
Austin Washington is an American soccer player who most recently played for Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.-College and amateur:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 8th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 10th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 9th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Head coaches
Dan Philp (2007) Abbas Faridnia (2008) Jake Moug (2009) Bernard Brodigan (2009-2010)Stadia
- Spokane Falls Stadium; Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
(2007-2008) - Plantes Ferry Park; Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, 1 game (2007) - Greyhound Park; Post Falls, IdahoPost Falls, IdahoPost Falls is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States near the Idaho state line between Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The population was 17,247 at the 2000 census, and grew to 27,574 people by the 2010 census, making it Idaho's tenth largest city.-History:Post Falls is...
, (2008-2009) - Joe Albi StadiumJoe Albi StadiumJoe Albi Stadium is an outdoor athletic stadium in Spokane, Washington. Primarily used for football, it is located in the northwest part of the city, just east of the Spokane River. It opened in 1950 as "Memorial Stadium," with a natural grass field, cinder running track, and a seating capacity of...
; Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
(2010)
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.- 2007: 424
- 2008: 319
- 2009: 204
- 2010: 139