Happy Anniversary Eddie Engerth

Posted Feb 14, 2010 by Nick Murray

Updated Feb 14, 2010 at 07:24 PM

Tampa Tribune writer Jim Henderson described it thus:

“It’s like ice hockey, except the ball can be seen.”

The advertisment in the Tribune billed it as: “Your first chance to see Tampa’s only big league professional sports team in action.”

So was the first game in Tampa Bay Rowdies history described 35 years ago today as they faced the Washington Diplomats at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg in the Eastern Division North American Soccer League Indoor Tournament.

Played over three periods of 15 minutes, the Rowdies emerged victorious with a 7-2 victory against the Diplomats as Eddie Engerth scored the first two goals in team history, and soon-to-be club legend Mike Connell scored his first goal for the club, the last of the game with 1:45 to play in the third period.

Engherth, a native of Philadelphia, scored with 4:22 to play in the first period, and then again five seconds before the intermission in front of a crowd of 4,437.

Doug Wark and Ringo Cantillo also scored twice apiece for the Rowdies, who according to the official box score outshot the Dips 35-4 in the second period alone and finished with 90 for the game.

So, the big question is: Were you there? And if you were, what was your first experience with the Rowdies like?