John Houska

John Houska (May 13, 1956 – September 7, 2020)[1] was a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.

John Houska
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-05-13)May 13, 1956
Place of birth Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Date of death September 7, 2020(2020-09-07) (aged 64)
Place of death Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1973–1976 Loyola Greyhounds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1980 Memphis Rogues 48 (0)
1979–1980 Memphis Rogues (indoor) 12 (0)
1980–1982 Cleveland Force (indoor) 36 (0)
1982–1984 St. Louis Steamers (indoor)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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).[2] He backstopped the Greyhounds to the NCAA Men's Division II Soccer Championship as a junior in 1976, earning him a mention in Faces in the Crowd in the December 13, 1976 issue of Sports Illustrated.[3] He was also a 1976 Honorable Mention (third team) and 1975 Second Team All American.[4] He was inducted into the Loyola University Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame.[5]

Professional

In 1980, he signed with the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League. He led the league during the 1979-1980 NASL indoor season.[6] 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.[7]

He was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1999.[8]

References
  1. "John Houska 1956 – 2020" (obituary), The Baltimore Sun, Sunday, September 13, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2020
  2. Loyola University Maryland Soccer Records
  3. "Faces in the Crowd," Sports Illustrated, December 13, 1976. Retrieved November 28, 2020
  4. 1975 All Americans
  5. Loyola Marymont Hall of Fame
  6. The Year in American Soccer - 1980
  7. St. Louis Steamers Rosters Archived 2011-05-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame Archived 2012-02-08 at the Wayback Machine
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