Mike Seerey
Encyclopedia
Mike Seerey, is a former U.S. soccer, forward
and a two-time recipient of the Hermann Trophy
as the outstanding collegiate soccer player of the year. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League
and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
.
Seerey was a standout U.S. collegiate soccer player at St. Louis University where he starred for the school's men's soccer team from 1969 to 1972. During his four years with the Billikens, the team won the NCAA championship
three times. In 1971, Seerey was a first team All American
. He also won the Hermann Trophy
as the top collegiate player of the year. Ironically, he was named the NCAA Tournament's Offensive MVP although this was the only year St. Louis did not win the championship during Seerey's four seasons. Seerey repeated as the Hermann Trophy
winner in 1972, making him the second two-time winner after fellow St. Louis team mate Al Trost
. However, he was not named to the All American list his senior year. As of 2007, he is ranked fourth on season points list at St. Louis with 55 in the 1971 season.
In addition to playing collegiate soccer, Seerey was also a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team
. He began playing with the Olympic team while in 1971 while still in college. That year, the team went 3-0-2 in first-round qualifications. In 1972, the U.S. qualified for its first Olympics in twelve years. Seerey scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Guatemala and another two goals in a 2-2 tie with Mexico. The U.S. finished the second round qualifications with a 2-1-3 record and a berth in the 1972 Summer Olympics
. Seerey started and played all 90 minutes in the first two U.S. games at the Olympics. In the first game, the U.S. held Morocco scoreless in a 0-0 tie. However, the next game brought the team back to Earth as Malaysia easily won 3-0. The U.S. coach sent out his reserves for the last game against host West Germany and Seerey watched his team mates get humbled 7-0.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1972.html
After the Olympics, Seerey turned pro with the Miami Toros
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He played 14 games and scored 3 goals, adding 4 assists. The next year, he moved to the Saint Louis Stars
, also of the NASL, where he played for the next three years. He never found his scoring touch with the Stars and when he retired from the NASL after the 1976 season, he had only scored 1 goal in 43 games with that team.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
and a two-time recipient of the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the outstanding collegiate soccer player of the year. He played four 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:...
and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
Seerey was a standout U.S. collegiate soccer player at St. Louis University where he starred for the school's men's soccer team from 1969 to 1972. During his four years with the Billikens, the team won the NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
three times. In 1971, Seerey was a first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. He also won the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
as the top collegiate player of the year. Ironically, he was named the NCAA Tournament's Offensive MVP although this was the only year St. Louis did not win the championship during Seerey's four seasons. Seerey repeated as the Hermann Trophy
Hermann Trophy
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually by the Missouri Athletic Club to the United States's top male and female college soccer players.-History:...
winner in 1972, making him the second two-time winner after fellow St. Louis team mate Al Trost
Al Trost
Alan Trost is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder. He played collegiate soccer at Saint Louis University where he won the 1969 and 1970 Hermann Trophy as the player of the year. His professional career includes years in both the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League . He...
. However, he was not named to the All American list his senior year. As of 2007, he is ranked fourth on season points list at St. Louis with 55 in the 1971 season.
In addition to playing collegiate soccer, Seerey was also a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic soccer team
United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
. He began playing with the Olympic team while in 1971 while still in college. That year, the team went 3-0-2 in first-round qualifications. In 1972, the U.S. qualified for its first Olympics in twelve years. Seerey scored two goals in a 2-0 victory over Guatemala and another two goals in a 2-2 tie with Mexico. The U.S. finished the second round qualifications with a 2-1-3 record and a berth in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. Seerey started and played all 90 minutes in the first two U.S. games at the Olympics. In the first game, the U.S. held Morocco scoreless in a 0-0 tie. However, the next game brought the team back to Earth as Malaysia easily won 3-0. The U.S. coach sent out his reserves for the last game against host West Germany and Seerey watched his team mates get humbled 7-0.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1972.html
After the Olympics, Seerey turned pro with the Miami Toros
Miami Toros
The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
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:...
(NASL). He played 14 games and scored 3 goals, adding 4 assists. The next year, he moved to the Saint Louis Stars
St. Louis Stars (soccer)
The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on...
, also of the NASL, where he played for the next three years. He never found his scoring touch with the Stars and when he retired from the NASL after the 1976 season, he had only scored 1 goal in 43 games with that team.