Joe Papaleo
Encyclopedia
Joe Papaleo is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. He was the 1990 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year and the 1993 CISL Goalkeeper of the Year. He currently coaches the Christian Brothers Academy
boys' soccer team.
where he was a three-time All-Central New York and one-time All State soccer player. He was inducted into the CBA Hall of Fame in 2001. Papaleo attended Syracuse University
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1980 to 1982. He was a 1982 Third Team NSCAA All American and the Soccer America Goalkeeper of the Year. Papaleo set school records for career 44 and season wins with 44 and career shutouts with 36.
selected Papaleo in the first round (fifth overall) of the North American Soccer League
draft. However, the Pittsburgh Spirit
of the Major Indoor Soccer League also drafted him in the first round (eleventh overall) of the MISL Draft. When the Cosmos informed Papaleo that he would be confined to the Cosmos reserve and indoor teams for at least three years, he chose to sign with Pittsburgh. He played for the Spirit until 1986 when he moved to the Tacoma Stars. After one season in Tacoma, the Stars released Papaleo in a salary reduction effort. On July 30, 1987, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
. He was the 1990 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The MISL collapsed at the end of the 1991-1992 season and the Sidekicks moved to the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. Papaleo was the 1993 CISL Goalkeeper of the Year. Papaleo wore number 40. In 1990, he met Tara Brecheen a thirteen year old soccer player dying of cancer. He then changed his jersey number to 51. This was in honor of Brecheen's birthday of January 11. Papaleo visited Brecheen every day during her last five weeks alive. She died on October 28, 1990. Papaleo, Billy Phillips
and Sidekicks' equipment manager Chris Agnes were pallbearers at her funeral. In 1995, the Sidekicks traded Papaleo to the Pittsburgh Stingers
, but he retired soon after.
boys' soccer team. Over the years, his teams have won two New York State High School championships and he was the 2001 New York State Private School Coach of the Year.
In 2005, Papaleo was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. He was the 1990 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year and the 1993 CISL Goalkeeper of the Year. He currently coaches the Christian Brothers Academy
Christian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, New York)
Christian Brothers Academy is a private, Catholic college preparatory school in suburban Syracuse, New York run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, the school has roughly 750 students in grades...
boys' soccer team.
Youth
In 1979, Papaleo graduated from Christian Brothers AcademyChristian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, New York)
Christian Brothers Academy is a private, Catholic college preparatory school in suburban Syracuse, New York run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, the school has roughly 750 students in grades...
where he was a three-time All-Central New York and one-time All State soccer player. He was inducted into the CBA Hall of Fame in 2001. Papaleo attended Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, playing on the men's soccer team from 1980 to 1982. He was a 1982 Third Team NSCAA All American and the Soccer America Goalkeeper of the Year. Papaleo set school records for career 44 and season wins with 44 and career shutouts with 36.
Professional
In 1982, the New York CosmosNew York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
selected Papaleo in the first round (fifth overall) of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
draft. However, the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League also drafted him in the first round (eleventh overall) of the MISL Draft. When the Cosmos informed Papaleo that he would be confined to the Cosmos reserve and indoor teams for at least three years, he chose to sign with Pittsburgh. He played for the Spirit until 1986 when he moved to the Tacoma Stars. After one season in Tacoma, the Stars released Papaleo in a salary reduction effort. On July 30, 1987, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
. He was the 1990 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The MISL collapsed at the end of the 1991-1992 season and the Sidekicks moved to the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. Papaleo was the 1993 CISL Goalkeeper of the Year. Papaleo wore number 40. In 1990, he met Tara Brecheen a thirteen year old soccer player dying of cancer. He then changed his jersey number to 51. This was in honor of Brecheen's birthday of January 11. Papaleo visited Brecheen every day during her last five weeks alive. She died on October 28, 1990. Papaleo, Billy Phillips
Billy Phillips
Billy Phillips is a former U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played three seasons in the North American Soccer League, six in the Major Indoor Soccer League and later coached the Dallas Sidekicks for two seasons....
and Sidekicks' equipment manager Chris Agnes were pallbearers at her funeral. In 1995, the Sidekicks traded Papaleo to the Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers
Pittsburgh Stingers were a professional indoor soccer team in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1994–1995. The two season that the Stingers played they avg. attendance was 3,091 per game....
, but he retired soon after.
Coach
Following his retirement in 1995, Papaleo returned to Syracuse to become the head coach of the Christian Brothers AcademyChristian Brothers Academy (Syracuse, New York)
Christian Brothers Academy is a private, Catholic college preparatory school in suburban Syracuse, New York run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle. Located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse, the school has roughly 750 students in grades...
boys' soccer team. Over the years, his teams have won two New York State High School championships and he was the 2001 New York State Private School Coach of the Year.
In 2005, Papaleo was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame.