Toni Siikala
Encyclopedia
Toni Siikala is a retired Finnish football (soccer)
forward
who played in both the United States and Finland. He played professionally in the USISL and National Professional Soccer League.
Siikala played his first career season at men's level in 1989 with Sepsi-78 in Finland. In 1990-92, Siikala played for TP-Seinäjoki still in Finland. He moved to the United States in the fall of 1992 and entered Campbell University
where he was a 1993 Second Team and 1995 First Team All American soccer player. He scored 68 goals and added 21 assists in his 60 game collegiate career despite losing significant number of games to injuries in 1992 and 1994. He graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1996. In 2010, Campbell University inducted Siikala into its Athletic Hall of Fame. During the 1993 collegiate offseason, he played for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL. In 1995 and 1996, he played for the Nashville Metros
. In 1997, he returned to the Flyers for one season. On October 16, 1997, the St. Louis Ambush
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Siikala. He played only five games before being injured and released in February 1998. On March 3, 1998, the Charleston Battery
signed Siikala. He finished his career in the United States in 1999 with the Hampton Roads Mariners of the USL A-League.
In 1998 and 1999, Siikala served as an assistant coach with Charleston Southern University
while attending the school to earn a master’s degree.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
forward
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...
who played in both the United States and Finland. He played professionally in the USISL and National Professional Soccer League.
Siikala played his first career season at men's level in 1989 with Sepsi-78 in Finland. In 1990-92, Siikala played for TP-Seinäjoki still in Finland. He moved to the United States in the fall of 1992 and entered Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
where he was a 1993 Second Team and 1995 First Team All American soccer player. He scored 68 goals and added 21 assists in his 60 game collegiate career despite losing significant number of games to injuries in 1992 and 1994. He graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1996. In 2010, Campbell University inducted Siikala into its Athletic Hall of Fame. During the 1993 collegiate offseason, he played for the Raleigh Flyers of the USISL. In 1995 and 1996, he played for the Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
. In 1997, he returned to the Flyers for one season. On October 16, 1997, the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Siikala. He played only five games before being injured and released in February 1998. On March 3, 1998, the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
signed Siikala. He finished his career in the United States in 1999 with the Hampton Roads Mariners of the USL A-League.
In 1998 and 1999, Siikala served as an assistant coach with Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University, founded in 1964 as Baptist College, is an independent comprehensive university located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern enrolls a maximum of 3,200 students. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the university's mission is...
while attending the school to earn a master’s degree.