Out on the peripheral of soccer, the MASL keeps the the memories of those days when the MISL captured the imaginations of the nation alive. The Tacoma Stars are among the leaders in that movement. They are part nostalgia and part local powerhouse thrilling the people of Kent and Tacoma with hair-band rock and soccer that doesn’t slow down. They’ve done a fine job in their just-over-three seasons.
Those years, the roster was built on the backs of Darren Sawatzky’s connections to the Sounders Academy (which he launched), the Sounders U23s (which he manages) and other locals. The Stars first three full seasons they competed for playoff spots, earning a trip the second season twice and collecting a 34-28 record.