The mythological Firebird symbolizes resurrection, immortality and rebirth. The Willamette Valley Firebirds, a semi-pro soccer team that was based right here in Corvallis were more like the Pontiac muscle car, built for reckless speed. In 1999, the Firebirds had all of the horsepower it needed but lacked the overall performance to finish the race. Here is the untold story of an incredible team and an agonizing ending reminiscent of this year's New England Patriots.
The team's origins in Corvallis began when Tony Vandermeer, a teacher and soccer coach at Corvallis High School moved the Firebirds franchise from Portland in 1996. The team had a modest first season in the United System of Independent Soccer Leagues and existed mainly as a local club team for the following two seasons. In 1999 Vandermeer would build a special team that combined truly talented young players and experienced veterans for the '99 USL Premier Development League.
The roster for the '99 was very impressive. Joey Leonetti and Peter Kavanaugh were members of great University of Portland teams alongside Kasey Keller (and OSU assistant coach Linus Rhode). Leonetti had two caps for the United States. Greg Howes is currently a two-time Major Indoor Soccer League MVP. Some of the players were not as recognizable but extremely talented. Danny Angelo, Jason Crevar and Scott Tedder were local players recently graduated from high school that were able to make an impact at this level. Freddy Kummernes was a diminutive Norwegian playing at OSU who dominated the middle of the field. Veteran players Eric Wooten, Eric Merten and OSU standout keeper Brian Hill cemented the defense.
Worth noting is JP Capadano, the best soccer player ever to wear cleats in Corvallis (yes, he was that good) that you would never have heard of. Capadano was recruited to play at OSU but was released from the team for horticulture related disciplinary issues. With his head on straight he could have played at any level. After watching Capadano play, a German scout from Werder Bremen commented that he could sign him to professional contract in Europe based on his ability but that he would never make it due to his attitude. As it turned out that comment may have foreshadowed things to come for the Firebirds.
This amazing group rolled through the regular season, handily winning the Northwest Division with a record of 14-2. This earned the Firebirds the top seed in the Western Conference. The Firebirds gave notice to the entire league by traveling to Southern California becoming the first team from the Northwest Division to win the Western Conference championship over the powerful California teams. To outsiders the team seemed unstoppable leading into the national championships as the number one seed held in Spokane.
The team's success up to that point had been in spite of itself however. Vandermeer was stretched as both general manager and head coach. Blake Leamy was listed as the assistant coach but did not figure prominently. The team had essentially been on autopilot. The commitment to regular training had been decent during the season but short of championship caliber. As if intoxicated by their own success, the players began to unravel. In the week prior to nationals only a handful of players showed to train. Some of the younger players remained in California the entire week to indulge in local delights and explore amateur film making opportunities.
Due to injuries and other commitments the Firebirds were forced to travel to Spokane without some of the regular starters. Despite the adversities the Firebirds took a first half lead against Spokane when Kummernes found the target-man Leoneti who handled the pass with his chest for Howes to volley into the net. The Firebirds began to tire in the second half and Vandermeer did not have suitable options on the bench to hold the 1-0 lead. Spokane took the lead in the 75th minute. The final blow for the team came when Vandermeer chose to substitute the side's scoring talisman Greg Howes after a rough challenge. Howes loudly berated Vandermeer on the sideline as the final moments of the game passed. The Willamette Valley Firebirds' and Corvallis' chance for soccer fame on a national level had slipped away.
A member of the eventual championship team from Chicago asked Eric Merten what had happened to the Firebirds. Merten responded that the Firebirds had a bunch of great players, but were not a team. The player from Chicago noted that his team was the exact opposite, lacking any stars, but that the coach had demanded discipline, respect and hard work from everyone, and they played for each other. The pay off was the trophy.
The Firebirds never recovered from that heart breaking season. The following year the team was a shell of its former self finishing 3-15 in the PDL. After the 2000 season the team became defunct. In essence the franchise moved back to PGE Park to compete in the newly formed A-League as the Portland Timbers.
Here they are. You might even recognize a few faces. Do you remember the Firebirds? Share your memories with us.
'99 Willamette Valley Firebirds
Aaron Mamula, Greg Howes, Casey Fries, Peter Kavanaugh, Joey Leonetti, Danny Angelo, Joe Sanders, Cristian Curiel, Eric Merten, JP Capodano, Freddy Kummernes, Eric Cronkrite, Scott Tomlins, Jason Crevar, Scott Tedder, Bryn Richie, Eric Wooten, Byron Alvarez, Brad Stratton, Bryan Winters, Ian Fuller, Colin McMillan (GK), Ben Meckel (GK), Brian Hill (GK) Paul Merten (GK), Tony Vandermeer (Head Coach/GM), Blake Leamy (Asst. Coach).
Goals Leader: Greg Howes (19)
Assists Leader: Scott Tedder, JP Cappodano (11)
Total Points Leader: Greg Howes (42)
Most Minutes : Eric Merten (2090 of 2280 mins)
Match Results
Firebirds 6, Cascade (Salem) Surge 0
Firebirds 5, Abbotsford 86ers 2
Firebirds 3, Yakima Reds 0
Firebirds 2, Seattle Sounders Selects 1
Firebirds 1, Abbotsford 86ers 0
Firebirds 1, Spokane Shadow 0
Firebirds 3, Yakima Reds 2
Firebirds 3, Cascade Surge 2 (OT)
Firebirds 2, Seattle Sounders Selects 0
Abbotsford 86ers 3, Firebirds 2 (OT)
Firebirds 3, Cascade Surge 0
Spokane Shadow 4, Firebirds 1
Firebirds 6, Seattle Sounders Selects 1
Firebirds 3, Spokane Shadow 1
Firebirds 9, Yakima Reds 3
Firebirds 4, Cascade Surge 1
Western Conference Playoffs
Semi: Firebirds 1, Central Coast Roadrunners 0
Final: Firebirds 5, Abbotsford 86ers 1
PDL National Championships
Semi: Spokane Shadow 2, Firebirds 1
Consolation Match: New York Freedom 5, Firebirds 2
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11 comments
I wonder what kinda turn out you would get if a team like this was brought back to C-town..... lots of potential in our area that aren't involved with schools!
Joel
you gotta have more exciting and creative players.
all I see in that photo are old crescent valley rejects and a few over rated OSU players.
The coolest thing about the Firebirds for me was that they were primarily composed of local high school and university talent. You gotta love that, even if you didn't like their play.
Kinda cool to run your mouth about the team that beat all comers in the Western United States, isn't it? Thank goodness for the internet and the blog option 'Anonymous'. I guess you were cut? Waaannnnhhhh!
I see a couple of US National quality players (Leonetti, Winters), some professionals (Kavanaugh, Howes (rookie of the year, player of the year, leading scorer NPSL), Cronkrite), some wonderfully talented players like Capodanno, and some very good players that know the game and played their roles very well.
Posted by Jeff Merten
Would have been different in Spokane if Eric Wooten would have shown up. He was a rock in the defensive line that would have helped a great deal.
I'm not sure what Anonymous was saying about having more and exciting players. Greg Howes, Joey Leonetti, JP Capodano, and Scott Tedder scored so many goals in 1999 -- they still haven't broken their single season scoring records. What is more exciting or creative that scoring goals?
Eric Wooten (OSU, 1996) was one of Corvallis' best unknown soccer players. Too bad he's kicking pumpkins instead of soccer balls.
There are some very exciting players in the team photo. There might be a few overrated players there too...
What I know is this: You don't want to go into your biggest games of the season without your regular defensive line-up. If the Firebirds had to use a make-shift defensive line for their final two games of the season, it is no wonder they shipped more goals than usual.
I played on the team. I look back at that season and we did pretty good for practicing once a week with less than half the team showing up for practices.
And for the lack of excitement I must say that we scored a bunch of goals during the season. Should we have kept some of the games closer to create more nail-biting at the end of the games?
Thanks for commenting. As a member of the Firebirds team were you happy with the team's success given the level of discipline or disappointed based on the incredible talent the team had?
Firebirds were a very, very good team. I think the final season was a bit of a disappointment given the talent on the team. On the other hand, the players involved all had different ideas about what the team meant to them - Greg Howes was using it as a 'place-holder' against the next level. Spells disaster when the first play-off loss happens, because now some people are playing for pride, and some people are calling to find out who they are playing for next...
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