The 2012 Minnesota Stars FC season was the club's third year of existence and their first season under the simple moniker ''Minnesota Stars'' after being called ''NSC Minnesota Stars'' for their first two seasons of existence. The team played in the

North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It is considered the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the ...

, the second tier of the

American soccer pyramid The United States soccer league system is a series of professional and amateur association football, soccer leagues based, in whole or in part, in the United States. Although sometimes called the American soccer pyramid, teams and leagues are no ...

, for the second consecutive year. Outside of NASL play, the Stars competed in the

2012 U.S. Open Cup The 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 99th edition of the U.S. Open Cup, the annual national soccer championship of the United States. It ran from May to August and was organized by the United States Soccer Federation. Seattle Sounders FC of ...

, reaching the fourth round before losing to the

San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes are an American professional association football, soccer club based in San Jose, California. The Earthquakes compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. Origin ...

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...

Background

The Minnesota Stars FC Started the 2012 Regular season as the defending NASL Champions. The home opener was scheduled at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome vs the defending NASL regular season champions, the

Carolina RailHawks North Carolina FC is an American professional soccer team in Cary, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh, and member of the USL Championship. Founded in 2006, the team previously was named the Carolina Railhawks. On December 6, 2016, the RailH ...

. The Stars were still leagued owned at the start of the season; this could have meant that the 2012 season could have been the last season for the franchise. On November 8, 2012, NASL announced that Dr. William McGuire would be the new owner of the Stars, saving the Stars from possible contraction.

Roster

Staff

Transfers

Winter

In: Out:

Summer

In: Out:

Friendlies

Competitions

NASL

Standings

Results

NASL Playoffs

Soccer Bowl

U.S. Open Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

, - , colspan="14", ''Players who left NSC Minnesota Stars during the season:''

Goal scorers

Disciplinary record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2012 Minnesota Stars Football Club Season Minnesota United FC seasons Minnesota Stars Football Club Minnesota Stars Football Club

Minnesota Stars Minnesota ( ) is a state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the south, and Nor ...