Tacoma Stars Signed Goalkeeper Luis Birrueta

The Tacoma Stars have secured Luis Birrueta with a two-year deal following a successful recovery from injury.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Soccer

Tacoma Stars Signed Goalkeeper Luis Birrueta

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The Tacoma Stars have signed goalkeeper Luis Birrueta to a two-year contract. This extension comes after the club chose not to protect him during the May 2026 expansion draft.

Why it matters

The signing keeps a key defensive presence in Washington, meeting the player's stated desire to remain with the team after a season hampered by a quad injury.

Birrueta won two player of the week awards last season and was named MASL goalkeeper of the month in December. His performance is backed by a three-season sponsorship from West Coast Goalkeeping.

The players

Luis Birrueta

He is a professional goalkeeper for the Tacoma Stars who balances his athletic career with full-time work at Allstate Insurance Company.

Tacoma Stars

This is a professional soccer organization based in Tacoma that competes in the Major Arena Soccer League.

Kevin Vandenbosch

He is a professional trainer who developed the rehabilitation program that helped Birrueta recover from a quad injury.

Juan Licea

He is a trainer based in Yakima who worked with Birrueta during his off-season training sessions.

The details

To return to peak form, Birrueta completed a specialized rehabilitation program designed by Kevin Vandenbosch and conducted training sessions in Yakima with Juan Licea. Despite balancing full-time work at Allstate Insurance Company, the goalkeeper remains a central figure for the Stars as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.

May 2026: The Tacoma Stars held their expansion draft.
June 2026: Birrueta played five matches for the USL2 team.
September 2026: Luis Birrueta signed his two-year contract.
December 13, 2026: The Tacoma Stars season opener against Kansas City is scheduled.

Season Trajectory

The return of a veteran goalkeeper strengthens the squad's defensive depth as they look to improve upon a season where they missed the playoffs by just one spot. Securing this position provides much-needed stability ahead of the club's December season opener.

Fans can expect Birrueta to anchor the starting rotation, providing the consistency missing during last season's one-point playoff exclusion. His availability for the December opener is a key indicator that his quad rehabilitation was successful.

The takeaway

Maintaining long-term roster stability is essential for teams looking to overcome narrow playoff misses. Athletes who manage professional careers alongside athletic demands highlight the importance of personalized rehabilitation programs for returning to competition.

What happens next

The Tacoma Stars are set to open their season on December 13 against Kansas City. Additionally, the Birrueta Insurance Group is expected to open later this year, and West Coast Goalkeeping plans to release signature gloves designed by Luis Birrueta.