The 2011–12 Illinois Piasa season was the sixth season of the Illinois Piasa indoor soccer club and second as a franchise in the Professional Arena Soccer League. The Piasa, named for the Piasa Bird of Native American legend, were an Eastern Division team who played this season's home games at The Sports Academy in Glen Carbon, Illinois. The team was led by co-head coaches Joe Reiniger and Justin McMillian.
Off-field moves In September 2011, the Piasa signed a multi-year deal to make The Sports Academy the team's new home arena. That same month, the team hired both Joe Reiniger and Justin McMillian to serve as co-head coaches for the 2011–12 season. Reiniger played professionally for the St. Louis Ambush, Milwaukee Wave, and St. Louis Steamers, and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 National Professional Soccer League Championship. McMillian's playing career included stops with the Indiana Blast, St. Louis Steamers, and St. Louis Illusion.
The team also announced that player Elvir Kafedžić would serve as assistant coach. Both he and co-head coach Justin McMillian remained on the active roster.
Before the team's final home game of the regular season on February 11, 2012, the Piasa honored St. Louis soccer legend Dragan "Don" Popović with a halftime ceremony. A native of Yugoslavia, Popović made his American professional debut with the St. Louis Stars in 1967. He was inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004 and member of the inaugural class by the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in October 2011.
Roster moves Illinois Piasa conducted two open tryouts for new players in September 2011. The tryouts were held on their home turf at The Sports Academy in Glen Carbon, Illinois.
Schedule
Regular season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Final score Team record1SaturdayNovember 57:35pmKansas MagicL 9–110–1The Sports Academy6582 SaturdayNovember 127:35pmat Kansas MagicL 3–40–2EPIC Indoor Sports Center4123SaturdayNovember 197:35pmDetroit WazaL 3–40–3The Sports Academy2354SaturdayNovember 267:35pm(6:35pm Central)at Cincinnati KingsL 4–100–4Cincinnati Gardens7935FridayDecember 27:35pmLouisville LightningW 13–91–4The Sports Academy3076SaturdayDecember 107:35pmKansas MagicL 6–7 1–5The Sports Academy2567FridayDecember 168:00pm(7:00pm Central)at Ohio VortexW 8–32–5Canton Memorial Civic Center2678SaturdayDecember 177:00pm(6:00pm Central)at Ohio VortexW 9–53–5Canton Memorial Civic Center1379SaturdayJanuary 77:30pm(6:30pm Central)at Louisville LightningL 5–153–6Mockingbird Valley Soccer Complex110610SundayJanuary 82:35pm(1:35pm Central)at Detroit WazaL 3–12 3–7Taylor Sportsplex45111SaturdayJanuary 147:35pmCincinnati KingsW 9–84–7The Sports Academy28012FridayJanuary 207:30pm(6:30pm Central)at Louisville LightningL 4–74–8Mockingbird Valley Soccer Complex79213SaturdayJanuary 217:35pmCincinnati KingsW 6–4 5–8The Sports Academy40214FridayJanuary 277:35pmOhio VortexW 12–36–8The Sports Academy41315FridayFebruary 108:05pmat Kansas MagicL 2–86–9EPIC Indoor Sports Center7916SaturdayFebruary 117:35pmDetroit WazaL 5–66–10The Sports Academy605
Post-season Game Day Date Kickoff Opponent Results Location Attendance Final score Team recordDivSaturdayMarch 37:30pm(6:30pm Central)at Detroit WazaL 6–7 (OT)0–1Taylor Sportsplex717
References
External links Illinois Piasa official website The Sports Academy official website