John Houska
Encyclopedia
John Houska is a retired American soccer goalkeeper
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League
.
.
He was also a 1976 Honorable Mention (third team) and 1975 Second Team All American. He was inducted into the Loyola University Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.
of the North American Soccer League
. He led the league during the 1979-1980 NASL indoor season. In the fall of 1980, he moved to the Cleveland Force
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
where he spent two seasons. He also played for the St. Louis Steamers
from 1982 to 1984.
He was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.
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 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:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
.
College
Houska attended Loyola University Maryland, where he played on the men's soccer team from 1973 to 1978. He holds the team records for saves in a season (193) and career (471). In 1976, he backstopped the Greyhounds to the NCAA Men's Division II Soccer ChampionshipNCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship has been played since 1972.The tournament is a 32-team, single-elimination tournament. The Division II tournament is structured around the eight NCAA regions . Four teams from each region are selected with no automatic qualifiers given...
.
He was also a 1976 Honorable Mention (third team) and 1975 Second Team All American. He was inducted into the Loyola University Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.
Professional
In 1980, he signed with the Memphis RoguesMemphis Rogues
The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League. They operated in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.-History:...
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:...
. He led the league during the 1979-1980 NASL indoor season. In the fall of 1980, he moved to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
where he spent two seasons. He also played for the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
from 1982 to 1984.
He was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.