Ted Hantak

Ted Hantak is a retired United States soccer forward who earned three caps, scoring two goals, with the United States men's national soccer team in 1987.

Ted Hantak
Personal information
Date of birth (1962-03-07) March 7, 1962
Place of birth St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Forward
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 UMSL Tritons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1988 Memphis Storm (indoor) 42 (45)
1988 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 7 (2)
1988–1989 Memphis Storm (indoor)
1989 Milwaukee Wave (indoor) 19 (7)
–1994 St. Louis Kutis S.C.
National team
1987 United States 3 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

College

Hantak attended the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) where he played Division II NCAA men's soccer in 1984 and 1985. An outstanding forward, Hantak scored 13 goals his freshman season. That year, UMSL lost to Seattle Pacific University in the NCAA Division II championship semifinals. Hantak continued his scoring pace as a sophomore, bagging 17 goals. That year, however, UMSL lost to Florida International in the second round of the tournament. Ironically, in 1984, Florida International won the championship and in 1985, Seattle Pacific won it. Hantak was All Conference in both 1984 and 1985 and a 1985 Second Team All-American.[1][2] He left the school after his sophomore year ranked fourth in career goals (30) and fourth in career points with 71, coming from his 30 goals and 11 assists.

Professional

On June 2, 1986, the Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Indoor Soccer League drafted Hantak in the first round (12th overall).[3] They cut him during the pre-seasons training camp and he moved the St. Louis Steamers for a tryout. However, on November 4, 1986, the St. Louis Steamers released Hantak. He then signed with the Memphis Storm in the American Indoor Soccer Association. Over two seasons, he scored forty-five goals in forty-two games with the Storm. In the spring of 1988, he left the Storm for personal reasons. On March 3, 1988, he joined the Baltimore Blast of MISL as the team prepared for the playoffs.[4] Hantak returned to the Storm for the 1988–1989 season, playing twenty-three games. He earned All AISA honors, placing second in the league with 21 goals and fourth with total points which came from his 21 goals and 10 assists.[5] However, the team sent him to the Milwaukee Wave in January 1988 as a cost-cutting move. On September 14, 1989, the Chicago Power bought his contract from the Wave.[6] There are no indications that he played for the Power. However, he spent several years with the amateur St. Louis Kutis S.C. before retiring in 1995.

National team

In 1987, Hantak debuted with the United States men's national soccer team in a June 8 3–1 loss to Egypt at the 1987 President's Cup in South Korea. With his goal, Hantak became one of the few U.S. players to score in his debut with the national team.[7] Hantak played the next two U.S. games in the cup, a 1–0 loss to South Korea and a 1–0 victory over Thailand. Hantak scored the winning goal against Thailand, giving him 2 goals in his first 3 national team games. These would be his only goals games with the full national team.[8] For some reason, he never played again for the senior team.

Although he never played a full international game again, Hantak played two games, not recognized by FIFA as full internationals, for the U.S. team in the 1987 Pan American Games. He scored another two goals, both in the 3–1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago. His last game with any of the U.S. national teams came on September 5 when he came on as a 65th-minute substitute for Frank Klopas in a 4–1 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in an Olympic qualifier. He finished his national team career with 6 games (5 as a starter) and 4 goals.

References
  1. UMSL All Conference athletes
  2. 1985 All American
  3. Dallas Sidekicks Draft Choices
  4. BLAST'S HANTAK PAID HIS DUES St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MO) - Friday, March 25, 1988
  5. The Year in American Soccer - 1988
  6. POWER READY TO MAKE MOST OF DRAFT, DEALS Chicago Tribune - Friday, September 15, 1989
  7. U.S. Returns to D.C. to Prepare for Panama
  8. National Team Player Registry
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