Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the

American Professional Soccer League The American Professional Soccer League (APSL) was a professional men's soccer league with teams from the United States and later Canada. It was formed in 1990 by the merger of the third American Soccer League with the Western Soccer League. It ...

in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of

Trenton State College The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) is a public university in Ewing Township, New Jersey. It is part of New Jersey's public system of higher education. Established in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ was the first normal school, or ...

(today known as the College of New Jersey). The team also played a small number of home games at La Salle University. The team was coached by

Dave MacWilliams Dave MacWilliams (last name also spelled McWilliams) (born May 20, 1957, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a retired American soccer forward and head coach who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer L ...

and assisted by former local professional player Tom O'Dea. Mike Romeo was the team's goalkeeper coach. Notable players included

Cris Vaccaro Cris Vaccaro (born October 3, 1958) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League, as well as internationally for ...

and

Dan Donigan Dan Donigan (born August 3, 1966) is a retired United States soccer forward and former coach who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. Following ...

as well as a pair of current NCAA Division I coaches, Dave Masur of St. John's University and

George Gelnovatch George Gelnovatch (born February 12, 1965) is the men's soccer coach at the University of Virginia. He played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and American Professional Soccer League. As head coach, he has led Virginia men's soc ...

of University of Virginia. The team also had Matt Knowles, who was the first draft pick of the New York/New Jersey Metrostars in 1996. The original ownership group included Spencer Rockman and Pat Varsalona, who were the co-founders of the Garden State Soccer League, New Jersey's largest adult semipro/amateur soccer league and long-time soccer entrepreneur Charles Cuttone, who sold his interest before the team's first season. Then Rutgers head coach Bob Reasso served as the team's General Manager. Although reasonably well-supported, the team ceased operations after its second season.

Ownership

* Spencer Rockman - Co-Owner * Pat Varsalona - Co-Owner * Vincent Baldino - Co-Owner * Charles Cuttone - Co-Owner

Coaching staff

- Head Coach ''(1990-1991)'' * Paulo Dias - Head Coach ''(1991)'' * Tom O'Dea - Assistant Coach * Mike Romeo - Goalkeeping Coach

Honors

First Team All Star * 1990

Dale Caya Dale Caya is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who was the 1990 American Professional Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year. Caya attended Temple University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1982 to 1985. In 1988, he played for the amate ...

Brian Ainscough Brian Ainscough is a soccer coach, who last coached the men's soccer team at Northeastern University from 2005 to 2014. He compiled a 79-80-33 overall record, including a 27-16-12 mark in conference play. He transformed the Huskies soccer program ...

Second Team All Star * 1990 Pat O'Kelley

Year-by-year

References

Defunct soccer clubs in New Jersey American Professional Soccer League teams 1990 establishments in New Jersey 1991 disestablishments in New Jersey Soccer clubs in New Jersey Association football clubs disestablished in 1991 Association football clubs established in 1990 Ewing Township, New Jersey {{NewJersey-footyclub-stub