Mike Hunter (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Mike Hunter is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who played five seasons in the North American Soccer League
as well as one in the Western Soccer Alliance and three in the Major Indoor Soccer League
.
Hunter grew up in the Los Angeles area, attending Damien High School
in La Verne, California
. He then played soccer at Santa Clara University
from 1976 thru 1979. In the fall of 1979, he signed with the expansion Detroit Lightning
in the Major Indoor Soccer League
as the first pick of the first MISL draft. The Lightning folded at the end of the 1979-1980 season and Hunter moved to the San Jose Earthquakes
as their first pick in the North American Soccer League
draft. He would play five outdoor seasons with the Earthquakes in the NASL. In 1983 and 1984, the team was renamed the Golden Bay Earthquakes. In the fall of 1984, the Earthquakes dealt Hunter to the Los Angeles Lazers
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. According the San Diego Union, Hunter "a five-year indoor veteran . . . was acquired from Golden Bay." Hunter spent two seasons with the Lazers before a contentious release after the trade deadline on March 1, 1986 as the team prepared for the play-offs. In addition to playing the winter indoor seasons with the Lazers, on June 5, 1985, Hunter returned north to sign with the Earthquakes for an eighteen game non-league exhibition season. By this time the NASL had collapsed and the Earthquakes no longer belonged to a league. In October 1986, Hunter went on trial with the San Diego Sockers, but there is no indication that he played for them.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played five seasons 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:...
as well as one in the Western Soccer Alliance and three in 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...
.
Hunter grew up in the Los Angeles area, attending Damien High School
Damien High School
Damien High School is a private, all-male Roman Catholic high school in La Verne, California named for Saint Damien of Molokai. The school had its first graduating class in 1963. Each of Damien's freshmen classes draws from an average of over 75 different elementary and junior high schools for...
in La Verne, California
La Verne, California
La Verne is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 31,063 at the 2010 census, down from 31,638 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. He then played soccer at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
from 1976 thru 1979. In the fall of 1979, he signed with the expansion Detroit Lightning
Detroit Lightning
The Detroit Lightning was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1979-1980. The Lightning finished that season at 15-17...
in 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...
as the first pick of the first MISL draft. The Lightning folded at the end of the 1979-1980 season and Hunter moved to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
as their first pick 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:...
draft. He would play five outdoor seasons with the Earthquakes in the NASL. In 1983 and 1984, the team was renamed the Golden Bay Earthquakes. In the fall of 1984, the Earthquakes dealt Hunter to the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. According the San Diego Union, Hunter "a five-year indoor veteran . . . was acquired from Golden Bay." Hunter spent two seasons with the Lazers before a contentious release after the trade deadline on March 1, 1986 as the team prepared for the play-offs. In addition to playing the winter indoor seasons with the Lazers, on June 5, 1985, Hunter returned north to sign with the Earthquakes for an eighteen game non-league exhibition season. By this time the NASL had collapsed and the Earthquakes no longer belonged to a league. In October 1986, Hunter went on trial with the San Diego Sockers, but there is no indication that he played for them.