Stalnik, Tumwater Pioneers prepare for first season in PASL Premier

by David Falk

TUMWATER, Washington—The Tumwater Pioneers will debut this winter in the Northwest Division of the Premier Arena Soccer League. The club has hired former Wenatchee Fire goalkeeper Matt Stalnik to build the team. The Pioneers will play at Tumwater Indoor Sports.

Stalnik says the venue should be fun for spectators. “The facility features glass panels around a large part of the arena, not half boards, which provides viewing for fans as if they were right next to the players. The field is smaller in size which will make for a fast pace, physical game. There will be concessions. There will be admissions to the game for spectators for $5 an adult, and $3 a child.”

Stalnik is a veteran of the Northwest indoor wars. “I’ve been playing in and out of the PASL since 2006,” he recalls. It should be very helpful as he transitions to player / head coach. “As a goalkeeper I see the whole field in front of me. Part of being a goalkeeper is vocalizing what you see. I’ve been a goalkeeper/assistant coach for Evergreen and SPSCC, as well as recently being certified as a personal trainer. Both in coaching and personal training you need to focus on clear communication skills. Listen to what your players/clients see and feel, and act accordingly. I think I speak for all programs in the PASL that there is a lot of sacrifice that goes into running these teams. Not only in time dedicated by players and coaches, but by managers, volunteers, families, fans, schooling, and careers. If your players learn to play for not just themselves, but for everyone else that makes sacrifices for them, good things will happen.”

Coaching Style

Stalnik will have help on the bench. “My player/assistant coach Kevin Creeley will play a large role in the success of our program. He already receives a lot of respect from players in the area. The two of us will be working more as co-coaches. We will be looking to put a strong team together to represent The City of Tumwater and Thurston County.”

Stalnik is already thinking about his style of coaching and the Pioneers’ style of play. “I will focus on being fit, but also tactically sound. I want to possess the ball. I will also put a large emphasis on dead ball opportunities as you have the chance to now manipulate the field to get a shot on goal. On the defensive side, we go back to sacrificing. Players will have to lie down or stand tall knowing that they are going to get pelted with hard shots. It takes a lot of backbone, but you do whatever you can possible to keep the ball out of your net.”

Open Tryouts

Pioneers open tryouts (see flyer) are October 6th and 7th. Stalnik says he’s open to all kinds of players, but first touch is crucial. “Having indoor experience would be nice, but not every player on our team will likely have that. What I am looking for during tryouts is first touch. You have to be able to trap the ball on a dime. I will also be looking at vision, as you receive that trap how well can you get your head up to act preemptively. Passing and off the ball movement is especially important in indoor. With that said, if you don’t have the indoor experience, but have a good attitude and a willingness to learn, you’re likely to succeed on this team if selected to the squad.”

“We are here to give Thurston County another opportunity to play competitively. There are a number of men’s leagues in the area, as well as three colleges. The college season runs from August-November. After their season they will have a separate trial to make the squad with the Pioneers. If they make the squad, those college players are now playing competitively eight months straight out of the year. I remember I had this opportunity for three seasons in a row while I was in college, and I always thought it was really exciting.”

Community Pride

The Pioneers want to be part of the community and they want to put soccer people first. “Our goals are to put together a strong tight nit family. We want to compete and represent Tumwater proudly. Most of all we want to give back to the community. Look for players and volunteers to do various events around town this season. We hope to gain a lot of support, and provide a live sporting event for our community to enjoy during those dreaded rainy months. Anyone interested in sponsoring, donating, volunteering, or have any other inquires are free to contact me a mattpioneers@gmail.com.”

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