Mark Peterson (soccer)

Mark Peterson

Personal information
Date of birth	(1960-04-19)April 19, 1960
Place of birth	Tacoma, Washington,United States
Date of death	July 7, 2011(2011-07-07)(aged 51)
Place of death	Tacoma, Washington,United States
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Norpoint Royals
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1980–1983	Seattle Sounders	99	(48)
1980–1981	Seattle Sounders(indoor)	18	(15)
1983	→Team America(loan)	7	(1)
1983–1986	Tacoma Stars(indoor)	127	(79)
1987	Seattle Storm
International career
1980–1985	United States	6	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mark Peterson(April 19, 1960 – July 7, 2011) was an Americansoccerforwardwho played professionally in theNorth American Soccer League,Major Indoor Soccer LeagueandWestern Soccer Alliance.He also earned sixcaps,scoring one goal, with theUnited States men's national soccer team.

Youth

Peterson was born and raised inTacoma, Washington,where he attendedWilson High School.He played soccer at Wilson, as well as for the Norpoint Royals Soccer Club.

Professional

Peterson elected to forgo college and joined theSeattle Soundersdevelopment program in 1979. This was the Sounders' sixth season in theNorth American Soccer League(NASL). In 1980, he was called up to the first team where he had an immediate impact. In 34 games that year, he scored 18 goals. Despite his prolific scoring pace, he came in second for 1980 Rookie of the Year toJeff Durganof theNew York Cosmos,a youth teammate of Peterson's at the Norpoint Royals. In 1981, Peterson experienced a sophomore slump, scoring only five goals in 21 games, but came back strong in 1982 to bag 19 goals in 38 games and take the 1982 North American Player of the Year honors. In 1983, he continued his excellent work with the Sounders, but experienced a difficult playing situation. TheU.S. Soccer Federation(USSF) had placed thenational team,known asTeam Americainto the NASL as one of the league's franchises. They did this in order to create a more unified and successful team. However, several top U.S. players, Peterson included, chose not to join Team America. This sparked considerable consternation and bitterness within the national team as players with Team America criticized those who remained with their NASL teams. The pressure on USSF and Team America mounted as the national team performed poorly. Finally, USSF negotiated an agreement with the other NASL teams to allow them to loan U.S. players to Team America when they were not needed. This resulted in Peterson playing 21 games in 1983 for the Sounders and 7 games forTeam America.Unfortunately for Peterson, both the Sounders and Team America folded at the end of the 1983 season. On October 2, 1983, he was selected by theNew York Cosmosin the Sounders’ dispersal draft.He never played for the Cosmos as the NASL began to collapse. On November 24, 1983, he signed a two-year contract withTacoma StarsofMajor Indoor Soccer League.He led the team in scoring during the 1983–1984 season. In March 1987, he signed withF.C. Seattlein theWestern Soccer Alliance.

National team

Despite his proven scoring ability, Peterson earned only sixcapswith theUnited States men's national soccer teambetween 1980 and 1985. In 1980, he was still a young player and had difficulty breaking into the U.S. front line ofBoris Bandov,Steve MoyersandAngelo DiBernardo.In 1981 and 1982, the national team played only a single game each year, Peterson had no part in either one. His last game was a 1–1 World Cup Qualifier tie withCosta Ricaon May 26, 1985.

Peterson coached the North Tacoma Soccer Club until his death on July 7, 2011.

External links

• Sounders Bio
• NASL/MISL stats