AC St. Louis Annouce Final Six Signings

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS ANNOUNCES FINAL SIGNINGS
Six Players Agree To Terms With Club

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 26, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, announced the signing of six new players that will round out the roster for the club’s inaugural season. They are as follows: Brazilian’s Gauchinho and Cassiano Moreira, goalkeepers Chad Becker and Alex Dufty, and midfielders Jeff Cosgriff and Gilbert Pogosyan.

“We are happy to announce that our team is assembled,” said Director of Player Development Francisco Filho. “This is very exciting for us. We will bring two more very talented players to St. Louis from Brazil with Gauchinho and Cassiano joining us. We now have two goalkeepers under contract with Becker and Dufty, and we have added more depth to our midfield. We are ready to begin.”

Gauchinho, 27, brings the most international professional experience to the team. Gauchinho, full name Jéferson Lima de Menezes, has spent the past four seasons playing in Denmark for Næstved BK. Gauchinho appeared in 87 games for his Danish side while scoring 15 goals. Gauchinho’s professional career began with the historic Brazilian football club Flamengo in 2002.

Cassiano Moreira, 19, is simply known as Cassiano. He joins AC St. Louis from the Brazilian club EC Sao Jose, where he was teammates with another recent AC St. Louis signing, Alex Titton. Cassiano appeared in 13 games for Sao Jose this past season, scoring two goals.

Chad Becker is a 23-old goalkeeper from St. Charles, Missouri. Becker is the second player from Francis Howell North High School to join AC St. Louis. Jack Traynor also attended Francis Howell North. Becker played collegiately at Rockhurst University in Kansas City where he appeared in 67 games over his four-year career. Becker was a first team All-State, All-Metro, and All-Conference selection in 2004 at Francis Howell North, and was named to the Division II All-American First Team while at Rockhurst University.

Alec Dufty, 23, is a goalkeeper from Raleigh, North Carolina who attended Appalachian State University and the University of Evansville. Dufty was signed by Red Bull New York last March, and appeared in one game for the MLS side. Dufty was honored as an All-Missouri Valley Conference selection in his final two years at Evansville.

Jeff Cosgriff is a 23-year old midfielder from Santa Clara University where he was a mainstay in the lineup since his freshman year. Cosgriff appeared in 64 games at Santa Clara, scoring nine goals.

Gilbert Pogosyan is a midfielder from Pasadena City College. In his final season at Pasadena he scored seven goals, and added three assists.

AC St. Louis will begin their 2010 Training Camp on Tuesday, March 2 at the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Complex in Creve Couer, Missouri.

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RailHawks Sign Jun Marques Davidson

Official Press Release

Midfielder Davidson joins RailHawks from Japan
Davidson, 26, comes to U.S. after eight seasons in J-League

CARY, N.C. (Feb. 26, 2009) - The Carolina RailHawks have signed midfielder Jun Marques Davidson.

At 26, Davidson is a young, up-and-coming player with a bright future, and he also has loads of experience. Prior to signing with the RailHawks, he played the last eight years in Japan, including the last five in the J-League’s top tier. Since his professional debut as an 18-year-old in 2002, Davidson played in 128 matches and scored two goals.

“He’s a player I’ve known about for years,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “He’s played over 100 games in the J-League and is a well-regarded player at that level. I’ve always wanted to work with him but I’ve never been able to because he’s always been under contract. His contract was up this year and we managed to convince him a change would be good for him and might help him fulfill his dream of playing in Europe. We’ve got a player who’s not reached his peak yet but already played at a high level for a number of years. He’s very clean on the ball and he can play a number of positions. So we’re excited to have him.”

Davidson will lend additional support and experience to the RailHawks defense that last year was among the best in all of U.S. professional soccer and is returning almost entirely in tact in 2010. The RailHawks last season posted 17 shutouts and a 0.63 goals against average.

Davidson, a Japanese-American, was born and raised in Tokyo before moving to Pasadena, Calif., where he spent his high school years at the American Global Soccer School. He then returned to Japan and made his professional debut with Omiya Ardija in 2002. After three seasons in the J-League Division 2, he helped the team see promotion to Division 1 after it finished second in the table in 2004. Davidson remained with Omiya Ardija until 2006, finishing his time with that club with 87 appearances to his credit.

He spent the last three seasons under contract with Albirex Niigata, one of the best supported teams in Japan that draws 30,000-40,000 fans per game.

“Martin knew I had an interest in coming to the States. I kept in touch with him and he explained to me everything about the team and got me interested,” Davidson said. “All the things he talked about, it was all positive. The facilities are great and the standard of play is very high. So all those things made me want to come, and I want to help the team win.”

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RailHawks Add Maltese International

Official Press Release

RailHawks add Maltese international Barbara

CARY, N.C. (Feb. 25, 2010) - The Carolina RailHawks have signed forward Etienne Barbara, a 10-year veteran of the Maltese Premier League.

Barbara will provide additional firepower to a Carolina attack that in 2009 scored a club-record 43 goals, was shut out only seven times and was third in the league in shots taken and goals scored.

Barbara, 27, is currently playing for Hibernians, for whom he has appeared in 18 matches this season and scored four goals, in his native Malta. He will remain with the Hibs until late March.

“It never passed through my mind to play in America or that an opportunity could arise there,” Barbara said. “I couldn’t actually believe it until I met coach Martin [Rennie] when he came to Malta. He immediately had that professional approach and he was serious about it. Then the offer started to look attractive. I had opportunities to go to play in Europe, but America is a place that I’ve never been to and the professional setup and training facilities as Martin described them kept popping in my mind as a good challenge to look for. There are many teams and places where you can play football, but the right setup and facilities and having a good coach to help you develop your game is most important. So I’m looking forward to it.”

Barbara made his professional debut in 1999 with Floriana and remained with that club until 2003. There, he appeared in 74 matches and scored eight goals. During the January 2003 transfer window, he moved to the newly promoted Marsaxlokk, for whom he scored 21 goals in 43 appearances. In 2005, he moved to Birkirkara, where he scored 31 goals in 59 matches over two seasons. Barbara moved on to Sliema Wanderers in 2007, where he scored eight goals in 23 matches.

He then went to Germany’s SC Verl, where he made 18 appearances and logged 1,117 minutes but did not score a goal. After a trial with Sheffield Wednesday in England, Barbara returned to Malta and signed with Hibernians, the reigning league champion, last summer.

Barbara also has extensive international experience. He has been capped 30 times by the Malta National Team and has scored three goals in international play. He made his debut during a qualifying match at Israel for Euro 2004, and he scored his first two goals in a Feb. 2004 match against Estonia that ended a 2-2 draw. He scored his third goal in a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria in a 2006 World Cup qualifying match.

“Etienne’s played at a high level with the Maltese National Team, played against some of the best players in the world,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “He was a player I didn’t know too much about until a few months ago. I saw his videos and I was real impressed, and I spoke to some people who also told me, This guy is really, really good. I made the decision to go watch him play, and I was blown away by what he did. I’m hoping that will translate to our league, and I believe it will. He’s got pace, power and he can finish and he’s just an all-around player. He’ll add a lot to our squad.”

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Miami FC Signs Kyle Veris

Official Press Release

Miami FC Signs Kyle Veris

Miami FC signs another defender for the 2010 season

Miami, FL February 24th 2010- The Blues announced today the signing of Kyle Veris. The American central defender has played in Major League Soccer (MLS), the Norwegian first division and the CONCACAF Champions League. Terms of the signing were not disclosed.

“Kyle is a strong physical back that will solidify our back line. He has the experience and talent necessary to boaster what we believe is an already strong defensive unit," said General Manager Luiz Muzzi. "We are very excited to have a player of this level join the club.”

The Ohio native began his career with the Mid-Michagan Bucks of the Premier Developmental League before playing for the University of Akron and Ohio State University. The 6’3, 195-pound defender was drafted in the 2006 MLS Superdraft by the LA Galaxy, where he went on to play two seasons, logging over 1200 minutes for the Galaxy defense. After a one-year stint with I.L Hood Futbol Club of the Norwegian first division, Veris signed with the Puerto Rico Islanders. During his time with the Islanders he played 20 matches in the USL and also played during the knock out stages of the CONCACAF Champions league.

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AC St. Louis Signs Kreamalmeyer

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS SIGNS LUKE KREAMALMEYER

Becomes 5th St. Louis Area Player To Join Club

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 22, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, announced the signing of Edwardsville, Illinois native Luke Kreamalmeyer. Kreamalmeyer, 27, is a midfielder who has spent the last four seasons playing for the Carolina Railhawks, Rochester Rhinos, and Portland Timbers. Kreamalmeyer is the fifth St. Louis area player to agree to terms with AC St. Louis, joining Steve Ralston, Tim Velten, Zach Bauer, and Jack Traynor on the roster.

“I am excited that St. Louis finally has a professional team,” stated Kreamalmeyer minutes after signing his contract at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. “I am very excited to be playing professionally near my hometown. It is great to be a part of AC St. Louis in their first year, and I hope to be able to help this team and our organization grow. It is cool to join a team where you already know some people, and having played against Ralston, Velten, and Traynor before I am familiar with how they play, which should help greatly.”

Kreamalmeyer played collegiately at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois from 2001 until 2004 where he was a mainstay in their lineup for four seasons. He finished his collegiate career with 26 goals and 20 assists, and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team in his junior and senior years.

In 2005, Kreamalmeyer was selected by Real Salt Lake with the 37th selection in the MLS SuperDraft. He spent 2006 and 2007 playing with the Portland Timbers where he scored nine goals in two seasons. In 2008 he signed with the Rochester Rhinos and netted four goals and nine assists in 30 games. Last year Kreamalmeyer played for the Carolina Railhawks, making 30 appearances and scoring four goals with one assist.

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Crystal Palace Baltimore Signs Two Goalkeepers

Official Press Release

TWO NEW GOALKEEPERS FOR CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE
Harrison, Bush to Compete for Starting Spot, Rowland Leaves to Coach at U of MD

February 18th 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have added two goalkeepers to their 2010 squad while long-serving netminder Brian Rowland has decided to retire. New signings Chase Harrison and Evan Bush bring a combination of experience and potential to this key position.

Palace Baltimore Assistant Coach Todd Wawrousek remarked: "I saw Evan play with Cleveland and he’s a great young talent with unlimited potential. He can compete for the number one spot with Chase. Evan is highly regarded in the league and, given continued growth and refinement, we feel he can compete at high levels in the game in the United States."

Co-Head Coach Jim Cherneski added: "Evan's got exceptional athletic ability. He started goalkeeping relatively late in life but he has tremendous upside."

"As for Chase," Cherneski added, "we played against him last year when he was with Harrisburg and he put in some excellent performances. That was a big factor in us signing him. We're looking forward to him being a part of the club."

Chase Harrison, 25 years old, played his college soccer at Virginia Tech from 2002 to 2005, appearing in 79 matches and maintaining an impressive 1.12 Goals Against Average. While with the Hokies, the 6’ 3" netminder also played for the West Virginia Chaos of the Premier Development League.

In 2006, Harrison was taken by Real Salt Lake in the third round of the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft. The native of Huntington, West Virginia, was loaned out to the Virginia Beach Mariners of the then USL First Division for most of the year, making two appearances before being waived by Salt Lake at the end of the season. In 2007 he joined the Rochester Rhinos, also of the USL First Division, making a total of 18 appearances. In July 2008, Harrison was traded to another USL-1 club, the Portland Timbers, where he played six games. He spent last season with the Harrisburg City Islanders of USL-2 notching 16 starts.

23-year old Evan Bush was a standout at the University of Akron, earning three all-Mid American Conference first team selections, the 2005 MAC Newcomer of the Year and 2005 Freshman All-American team selection. He holds MAS career records for wins (62), shutouts (48), and Goals Against Average (0.60). During his college career, the 6’ 2" native of Concord Township, Ohio also played with PDL clubs the Chicago Fire Premier, the Cleveland Internationals and the Cape Cod Crusaders. He was named to the PDL All-Central Conference team in 2006. Bush turned professional in 2009, signing with the Cleveland City Stars of USL-1 where he made seven appearances.

Bush and Harrison will vie for the starting spot left vacant by Palace Baltimore’s long-serving goalkeeper Brian Rowland, who has accepted a position as Assistant Coach with the highly-regarded University of Maryland men’s soccer program.

"Brian’s been an integral part of our team since the beginning," stated Palace Baltimore President and Co-Head Coach Pete Medd. "But he’s chosen to get into coaching and we wish him all the best. He’s very dedicated and he’s got a sharp soccer mind, so we think he’ll be a fantastic coach for Maryland."

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AC St. Louis Sign Four More Players

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS ANNOUNCES MORE SIGNINGS

Four Players Agree To Terms With Club

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 17, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, announced the signing of four new players that have been added to the roster for the club’s inaugural season. Brazilian forward Alex Titton, defender Mark Bloom, defender Christian Nzinga, and midfielder Hagop Chirishian have all agreed to terms with the club. AC St. Louis now has a total of 16 contracted players with more signings expected.

“I am happy to have these players signed and ready to come into our camp,” said Director of Player Development Francisco Filho. “We have some great young talent here, and we will certainly help them develop. Alex Titton is a very exciting and dynamic young player for us to have. Christian Nzinga is a player who brings a lot of professional playing experience to us despite his young age, plus Mark Bloom and Hagop Chirishian will add depth to our club.”

Alex Titton, 19, has played in Brazil for EC Sao Jose. Titton has also had a trial with the reserve team at Tottenham Hotspur FC in the English Premier League. Titton hails from Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Christian Nzinga is a 24-old defender who has played in Europe for the past several seasons. Nzinga has played as a professional in Italy, Germany, and Norway. He started out his professional career as a member of West Ham United’s Academy where he spent three seasons.

Mark Bloom is a defender out of Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Bloom was a four-year starter at Berry, and an offensive minded defender who scored 13 goals and added nine assists over the course of his college career.

Hagop Chirishian is a midfielder that played last year for the Ventura County Fusion in the USL’s PDL league. Chirishian appeared in 16 games for the Fusion, scoring five goals while adding three assists as he helped leaded them to a PDL National Championship.

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Rochester Signs Two Players

Official Press Release

RHINOS SIGN HAMILTON AND KISSI

ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos announced today the signing of forward Anthony Hamilton and midfielder Isaac Kissi pending USSF approval.

Hamilton, 24, joins the Rhinos after playing the 2009 season with the Ventura County of the USL Premier Development League (PDL). In sixteen matches with the Fusion, Hamilton scored eight goals and added three assists in 1,353 minutes of play for the 2009 PDL championship team.

The Redlands, California native was the 31st overall draft pick of Chivas USA in the 2007 MLS Supplemental Draft and appeared in seven matches for the club during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Kissi, 22, a native of Brong-Ahafo, Ghana was in training camp with Chivas USA after being drafted in the third round (42nd overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft prior to signing with the Rhinos.

Last season, Kissi scored nine goals and added four assists in 16 matches with the University of Dayton and received the White Allen Most Valuable Player Award. In his three year career as a Flyer (2007-2009), Kissi scored 15 goals and added eight assists in 52 games.

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Carolina RailHawks Sign Flord Franks

Official Press Release

RailHawks bolster midfield with addition of Franks

Former UNC-Charlotte standout returns to U.S. after two years in Denmark

CARY, N.C (Feb. 15, 2009). - The Carolina RailHawks today announced the addition of midfielder Floyd Franks, who returns to the U.S. after a two-year run in Denmark’s Second Division.

“Floyd’s a player I’ve worked with before. He brought a lot to the team I coached in Cleveland,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “He provides a different element to our midfield than we have at the moment. He covers a lot of ground. He’s very strong on the ball, very good at winning the ball back, and he can also time his runs beyond strikers to score goals, and that’s an important thing we want to add to our team..

Before going overseas, Franks played for Rennie in 2008 with the Cleveland City Stars. He scored two goals and had one assist in 17 matches and helped the City Stars win the USL-2 championship. He left Clevland and signed with Blockhus FC in Denmark. During his season and half there, Franks appeared in 33 matches and had four goals and 13 assists.

“For one, I’m just really happy to be back in the U.S., so that was part of the appeal of joining the RailHawks,” Franks said. “And I went to school in Charlotte, so I know the area and I like it in North Carolina. And I’ve played for Martin before, so I know how he does things. You always want to progress as a player in all areas of the game, and Martin gives you a good opportunity to do that.”

Franks was drafted 10th overall by the Chicago Fire in the 2006 MLS Supplemental Draft. In two years with the Fire, he appeared in 16 matches and played a total of 374 minutes. He scored his only goal in a Fire uniform on July 29, 2007, in a 3-0 win at Toronto.

Franks was a four-year starter at UNC-Charlotte, scoring 18 goals and 15 assists in 71 games, with 63 starts. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshmen Team, the All-C-USA Second Team as a sophomore, First-Team All-C-USA and Third-Team NSCAA All-South Region as a junior and First-Team All-Atlantic 10 as a senior.

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NSC Minnesota Signs First Player

Official Press Release

Johnny Menyongar is First Player to Sign with NSC Minnesota Stars Pro Soccer Team

BLAINE, Minn. (February 12, 2025) - NSC Minnesota Stars, the new professional soccer team that will play at the National Sports Center, announced the signing of the first player, and it’s a familiar name to Minnesota soccer fans.

Johnny Menyongar, who was one of the most popular Minnesota Thunder players for six seasons between 2000-2005, signed a one-year contract. Menyongar most recently finished a four-year stint with the Rochester Rhinos.

In his six seasons with the Thunder, Menyongar scored 56 goals in 188 appearances. He helped the Thunder to the 2003 A-League championship game, and scored five goals to lead Minnesota to the semifinals of the 2005 U.S. Open Cup, where they lost to the LA Galaxy of MLS.

In his four seasons playing for the Rochester Rhinos he scored 28 goals in 106 appearances, and was named the team’s MVP in 2008 and 2009. One of the most effective offensive players in the league, Menyongar finished 2nd in goal scoring and 4th in points in the USL last season.

Menyongar was born on June 26, 2024 in Monrovia, Liberia. He came to the U.S. in 1998 and played collegiate soccer at Lindsey Wilson College in Columbia, Ky., leading the team to the NAIA Division III national championship.

He represented Liberia in two qualifying matches for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played in the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, and played in four matches during Liberia’s qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

“Simply put, Johnny is a special player,” said head coach Manny Lagos. “When you combine his Minnesota ties with the experience and leadership that he will bring to the team, it makes me absolutely ecstatic that Johnny is the first signing for NSC Minnesota.”

NSC Minnesota will play in the twelve-team United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-sanctioned division II league. The league will consist of two six-team conferences - the USL Conference and the NASL Conference. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin (Tex.), Minnesota, Portland (Ore.), Puerto Rico, Rochester (N.Y.) and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Montreal, St. Louis and Vancouver.

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Jack Traynor Signs With AC St. Louis

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS SIGNS ST. CHARLES NATIVE JACK TRAYNOR

Notre Dame Alum Is Fourth St. Louis Player To Sign With Club

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 12, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2, and a member of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the signing of defender and St. Louis native Jack Traynor. Traynor becomes the fourth St. Louis area player to officially sign with the club, joining St. Louis born and bred players Steve Ralston, Tim Velten, and Zach Bauer on the AC St. Louis roster.

“Anyone who comes from St. Louis dreams of playing professional soccer at this level here in their hometown,” said Traynor. “All of the local players that have signed so far are very excited to help put St. Louis back on the professional soccer map. Everyone knows St. Louis is a great soccer town, now it is our time to prove it.”

Traynor, 22, played four years of collegiate soccer at the University of Notre Dame where he was a standout defender earning four Notre Dame monograms (letterman honors). Following his senior year with the Fighting Irish Traynor was selected in the second round of the MLS SuperDraft by Red Bull New York. Upon being released from Red Bull New York Traynor signed with Miami FC and appeared in 20 games, making 17 starts, and recording four assists. Traynor logged 1,295 minutes of field time with Miami FC at his preferred left back position.

Traynor played high school soccer at Francis Howell North in St. Charles where he was a two-time All-State and All-Metro honoree. Traynor also played for the Scott Gallagher Soccer Club in St. Louis, and was a member of two national championship winning squads at the U-17 and U-18 levels.

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Crystal Palace Baltimore Add Three More Players

Official Press Release

CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE ADD THREE MORE QUALITY PLAYERS
Signings of Nishimura, Fusilier and Lucio Bolster 2010 Squad

February 11th 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have further strengthened their 2010 squad with the addition of three more quality players. Takuro Nishimura comes to Palace from last season's USL First Division regular season champion Portland Timbers, Santiago Fusilier was a standout with the Carolina Railhawks while Lucio brings extensive experience from Brazil's top flight.

Palace Baltimore President and Co-Head Coach, Pete Medd, commented on the new signings: "We've known Lucio for a couple of years now. With his background, he brings a lots of skill and flair to the team. He's a calming influence on the field and he brings leadership to the squad. You get him around the goal and he knows how to put it away, as evidenced by his scoring in the indoor leagues and in the Brazilian first division. Nishimura again brings a wealth of experience to the squad. He played a big part in Portland's great run last season. He's very versatile, he can play at the left or the right at the back or in midfield, he has extremely good feet and is just a consummate professional. Santiago is a very flashy, skillful Argentinian who really brings a lot of excitement to the fans - he was a fan favorite down in Carolina. He's tricky with the ball and a good dribbler - he brings that creative, offensive flair that we were missing last year. He can play anywhere across midfield or up top. We expect big things from him, lots of production."

Veteran Japanese defender Takuro Nishimura, 32, spent his first season in the U.S. with the Portland Timbers last year, helping them win the 2009 USL First Division regular season title, a remarkable turnaround from the previous season's last place finish. Prior to joining the Timbers, the 5' 9" Tokyo native played in Japan's J-League from 2001 to 2008. Nishimura began his professional career in 2001 with the Urawa Red Diamonds of J-League 1, but failed to break into the first team starting lineup during three seasons with the club. He subsequently joined local rivals Omiya Ardija in 2004, helping his side win promotion from J-League 2 into J-League 1 that year. He remained with the club through 2008, departing Japan with a total of 90 league matches to his name. Nishimura attended Kokushikan University in Setagaya, Tokyo from 1997 to 2000, winning the All-Japan Prime Minister Cup. Earlier, he was a part of Japan’s youth national team system, competing at the U-14 level.

Santiago Fusilier, 26, is an Argentine midfielder who spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons in the former USL First Division with the Carolina RailHawks, making a total of 40 appearances. The 5' 9" Buenos Aires native tore his ACL in the final game of the 2007 regular season against Portland, but he came back strong in 2008, tallying four goals and three assists in the league, along with one goal in the US Open Cup, earning the club's Offensive Player of the Year award. He spent much of the 2009 season in Argentina training with Chacarita Juniors and playing with their reserve team, but he and the club were unable to agree terms on a contract. Fusilier played as a defensive midfielder for North Carolina State University from 2003 to 2006, playing in 64 games and notching four goals and seven assists, helping the Wolfpack reach the 2003 and 2005 NCAA tournaments. While at NC State, he also played for PDL club Raleigh Elite.


29 year old Lucio (full name Lucio Luiz de Oliveira Gonzaga) is an attacking midfielder from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He enjoyed a brief stint with USL Second Division club Real Maryland last season, notching two goals and an assist in seven games. For the past three seasons, Lucio has enjoyed a highly successful indoor career with the Baltimore Blast - where he won the 2007 championship - and with the New Jersey Ironmen. Prior to his move to the United States, Lucio spent eight years playing in Brazil:

- 2006-2007: A.D. Sao Caetano (First Division)
- 2003-2006: Rio Branco Andradas (First Division)
- 2002-2003: A.A. Araxa (Second Division)
- 2000-2002: Racing Club Montevideo (First Division)

Lucio's youth career began in the 1994 with A.D. Sao Caetano, continuing with C.A. Juventus from 1995-1999 before turning pro in 2000.

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Nike Becomes Official Uniform & Apparel Provider of AC St. Louis

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS AND NIKE TEAM UP

Nike to be club's official uniform and apparel provider

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 11, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2, and a member of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced that the team’s official uniform supplier will be Nike. AC St. Louis and Nike have agreed upon a multi-year apparel and footwear sponsorship.

“This is a huge step in creating the AC St. Louis brand,” said AC St. Louis Chairman Jeff Cooper. “The name Nike resonates around the globe, and we are proud to have them designing our official uniform and our training product. We want to provide our players and fans a product that is of the utmost quality, and by partnering with Nike we have accomplished that.”

Nike currently is the official uniform and apparel provider for such storied European clubs as Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Celtic. Nike has also designed the uniforms that the United States and Brazil among others will wear at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

“Nike is proud to partner with AC St. Louis,” said Joe Elsmore, Nike’s Director of Soccer Sports Marketing for North America. “The St. Louis soccer community has a rich heritage and we’re honored to support AC St Louis by delivering our most innovative product”.

Nike and AC St. Louis expect to unveil the official kit and training product next month.

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Rochester Signs Frankie Sanfilippo

Official Press Release

ROCHESTER RHINOS SIGN VETERAN DEFENDER FRANKIE SANFILIPPO

ROCHESTER, NY - The Rochester Rhinos announced today the signing of defender Frankie Sanfilippo to a one year contract pending USSF approval. The six year veteran joins the Rhinos organization for the second time in his career.

Sanfilippo, 28, made 35 appearances for the Charleston Battery scoring two goals and adding two assists in 3131 minutes of play during the 2009 season. His resume includes two seasons (2007-2008) as captain of the Carolina RailHawks, scoring one goal and adding one assist in 51 games, two previous seasons with the Rhinos (2005-2006), scoring one goal and five assists in 53 games and 25 games as a rookie with the Syracuse Salty Dogs in 2004.

“Frankie brings leadership qualities as well as being one of the most consistent defenders in this league over the last six years” said Rhinos coach Bob Lilley. “He’s a hard nose player whose work ethic sets the tone for successful teams.”

The San Diego, California native attended San Jose State University (2000-2004) and was a sixth round (56th overall) draft pick of the San Jose Earthquakes in the 2003 MLS Super Draft. He elected to remain in school to finish his degree and signed with the Syracuse Salty Dogs to begin his professional career.

The Rhinos begin their 15th season of play on Saturday, April 10th in Miami, FL to take on the Miami FC Blues. Rochester opens its 2010 home slate at Marina Auto Stadium on Saturday, May 1st against the Carolina RailHawks at 7:00 p.m. Season tickets are currently on sale with packages starting at $35 in the supporters section and $99 in the General Admission and Reserved Seating sections. Call the Rochester Rhinos at 585-454-KICK (5425) to purchase.

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AC St. Louis Announces the Signing of Nine Players

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS SIGNS NINE PLAYERS

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 11, 2025) - AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2, and a member of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the signing of nine new players on Thursday. The following players have agreed to terms with the club; defender Dillon Barna, midfielder Troy Cole, midfielder Manuel Kante, defender John Lesko, midfielder Wilfred Louizeau, forward/midfielder James McCarthy, defender Anthony O’Garro, midfielder Christopher Salvaggione, and midfielder Brad Stisser.

AC St. Louis now has 12 players under contract for the upcoming season with more signing announcements expected soon. Below are brief biographies on each player.

Dillon Barna most recently played for the PDL club the Ventura County Fusion. Barna was a four-year starter at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. The 6’4” central defender played in all but two games of his collegiate career. Barna was a member of the Fusion team that won last year’s PDL national championship.

Troy Cole most recently played for the FC Atlanta Blackhawks. Cole played collegiately at Mars Hill College in North Carolina where he also served as an assistant coach in 2009. Cole played two seasons for Mars Hill College, starting 37 of 38 games while recording seven goals and two assists.

Manuel Kante is a midfielder with years of professional international experience. Kante has played professionally in Croatia, Greece, Portugal, and Scotland.

John Lesko is a 6’3” central defender from the University of South Carolina - Aiken. Lesko was an all-conference selection in his senior year. He scored three goals and added two assists from his defensive position.

Wilfred Louizeau is 24-year old French midfielder with professional playing experience in the Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, and Belgium. Louizeau most recently played for the FC Atlanta Blackhawks. He is also a product of the youth academies at French clubs Le Havre and Auxerre. Louizeau has played for France’s Ligue 2 side Creteil and for Paris FC, which was then in the Championnat National.

James McCarthy is an 18-year old midfielder and winger who is a member of the IMG Premier Development Academy in Bradenton, Florida. McCarthy was a recipient of the Best Player Award at the U-15 level of Manchester United’s Soccer School, and has had a pro trial with English league side Scunthorpe United FC.

Anthony O’Garro is a 24-year old left back from Trinidad & Tobago. He played collegiately for Shorter College in Rome, Georgia. O’Garro proved to be an offensive minded defender in college, scoring 12 goals with nine assists.

Christopher Salvaggione is an attacking midfielder that played for the PDL Austin Aztex and DFW Tornados last year. Salvaggione played collegiately at UNC-Charlotte before being drafted by the New England Revolution in the third round of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. Salvaggione played professionally last year for Real Colorado in the PDL. He made 13 appearances with the Foxes and scored seven goals.

Brad Stisser is a native of Highlands Ranch, Colorado who played collegiately at Loyola Marymount University. Stisser played last season for the PDL Real Colorado Foxes. The 23-year old midfielder played two seasons for Loyola Marymount and one season for Coastal Carolina.


QUOTES:


Dillon Barna: "Playing for AC St. Louis in the inaugural season is a dream come true. My parents have always believed in me, and supported me, and for that I'm thankful. I've heard nothing but great things about the passion for soccer in St. Louis, and the elite coaching staff. Getting on the pitch, to help give St. Louis a team they can be proud of, cannot come soon enough for me. Much work has been done by AC St. Louis to get this opportunity in front of me, and I plan to continue the hard work through the 2010 season and beyond."

John Lesko: "I am very excited to be joining the new NASL league and grateful for AC St. Louis giving me this amazing opportunity to join an exciting new organization. This is dream come true for me, and I will give everything for my new club to be successful on and off the field. I want to thank my family, friends and coaches for all the support. I can't wait to get started playing and winning games for the fans."

Anthony O’Garro: "Words cannot describe how happy I am to be part of AC St. Louis. I would like to thank everyone at the club for giving me a chance to play at the professional level and I promise that I will not let you down. I would also like to say to all the fans…GO AC ST. LOUIS."

Brad Stisser: “Signing with AC St. Louis is a dream come true. I’m very excited to be playing in a city with such rich football history. AC St. Louis has a top notch coaching staff and I can’t wait to begin working with them and the organization overall.”

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Vancouver to Face Seattle Sounders in Pre-Season Friendly

Official Press Release

WHITECAPS ANNOUNCE PRE-SEASON HOME MATCH AGAINST SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC

VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that on Saturday, March 6, the men's team will host Major League Soccer (MLS) club Seattle Sounders FC at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby, BC. The pre-season match will kick off at 4 p.m. PT.

All tickets for the match will cost $15, plus applicable service charges. Whitecaps season ticket holders will receive priority purchase rights and the remaining tickets will be available to the public on Wednesday, February 17 at 10 a.m. PT. Tickets will be available online at ticketmaster.ca or by calling 604.280.4400.

The Sounders are led by two-time MLS Coach of the Year Sigi Schmid and include key players like Swedish midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who was a member of the 2009 MLS Best XI and a former standout at Arsenal FC in the English Premier League. The squad also includes the talented Colombian and 2009 MLS Newcomer of the Year Fredy Montero. Team captain Kasey Keller is one of American soccer's most decorated goalkeepers. The Washington State native spent a large portion of his career playing in England, Spain, and Germany before returning home to join Sounders FC.

The March 6 match will be the second meeting between these two Interstate 5 rivals this pre-season. This Thursday, the Whitecaps and Sounders will meet in a pre-season training match at the Grande Sports World facility in Casa Grande, Arizona. Last February, both clubs met in a closed-door pre-season friendly match at Seattle's Qwest Field.

The Swangard match will also be the first time that the MLS Sounders have played in British Columbia, with both clubs set to renew this Pacific Northwest rivalry in 2011 when Vancouver joins MLS as the league's 17th team. Between 1974 and 2008, the Whitecaps and Sounders had no less than 111 competitive meetings between each other. The first 28 matches took place in the old North American Soccer League (NASL) between 1974 and 1983, with the 'Caps recording 17 wins and 11 defeats versus the Sounders. Soccer fans in Seattle and Vancouver then had to wait until 1994 for the rivalry to be renewed, with the Sounders claiming the upper hand during 83 meetings in the former United Soccer Leagues First Division (USL-1). Between 1994 and 2008, the Sounders recorded 43 wins, 25 defeats, and 15 draws versus the Whitecaps. Those recent results meant that Seattle command a favourable record of 54 wins, 42 defeats, and 15 draws in their 111 competitive matches with Vancouver.

The Whitecaps are currently in Arizona for two-week pre-season trip in Arizona. Following their stay at the Grande Sports World facility, the players will have a week off before training camp re-opens on Monday, March 1, at the Whitecaps Training Centre on the campus of Simon Fraser University. Additional pre-season matches will be announced shortly.

Whitecaps 2010 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for Vancouver MLS 2011 in BC Place. For more information on the 2010 season ticket packages, visit whitecapsfc.com or call 604.669.WAVE (9283).

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Manny Lagos Named NSC Minnesota Head Coach

Official Press Release

Manny Lagos selected as NSC Minnesota head coach

BLAINE, Minn. (February 10, 2025) - The National Sports Center (NSC) announced the appointment of Manny Lagos as the head coach of NSC Minnesota Stars, the new professional soccer team that will play at the NSC. Lagos had been previously announced as the team’s Director of Soccer Operations and he will continue in that role as well as head coach.

“This announcement shows we are focusing Manny’s attention on the soccer part of team’s operations,” said Kris Bjerkness, the team’s General Manager. Bjerkness is also the NSC’s Chief Administrative Officer. “Manny will be responsible for all aspects of the team’s performance, from player recruitment, training, right though game-day coaching decisions.”

Lagos played professional soccer for 14 years, including stints in Spain , France and ten years in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he won three MLS Championships - one with the Chicago Fire and two playing for the San Jose Earthquakes. He was a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team and the U.S. National Team. He has worked for and played for some of the best coaches in the world, including current U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bob Bradley, former National Team coach Bruce Arena, former Italian National Team coach Roberto Donadoni, Brazilian World Cup champion coach Carlos Alberto Parriera and current Portuguese National Team Coach Carlo Queiroz.

Lagos’ Minnesota soccer roots run deep as well. He was a star player at St. Paul Academy in the late ‘80’s and went on to be an All-American at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1990 and 1991. His father Buzz Lagos, was a founder and then the long-time coach of the Minnesota Thunder pro soccer team.

Lagos’ history with the National Sports Center goes back to his youth playing days. At the first-ever USA CUP youth soccer tournament in 1985, Lagos led his St. Paul Blackhawk U12 team to the championship final, where they lost to a team from Palos Verdes, Cal. He was a member of the gold medal-winning team at the 1990 U.S. Olympic Festival, which was played in the NSC Stadium, and he played for the Minnesota Thunder in 1994 and 1995.

“Manny’s extensive knowledge of the Minnesota soccer landscape will be an invaluable asset for this team,” continued Bjerkness. “He has seen soccer from every level, from youth to the World Cup. We’re a new team, but we want to respect and build on the rich tradition of pro soccer in Minnesota ; for that, Manny’s the strongest person we could hire.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity for me, professionally and personally,” said Lagos . “With a strong administrative structure in place at the NSC, I will be able to focus my energy on field-of-play issues. I think we have the ingredients to build a model team organization, and I want to fans to know that my focus will be on building the best possible soccer product.”

NSC Minnesota will play in the twelve-team United States Soccer Federation (USSF)-sanctioned division II league. The league will consist of two six-team conferences - the USL Conference and the NASL Conference. The USL Conference will include teams from Austin, Minnesota, Portland (Ore.), Puerto Rico, Rochester (N.Y.) and Tampa Bay. The NASL Conference will consist of teams from Baltimore , Carolina , Miami , Montreal , St. Louis and Vancouver .

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AC St. Louis Signs Zach Bauer

Official Press Release

ZACH BAUER SIGNS WITH AC ST. LOUIS
CBC/SIUE Alum Becomes Club’s Third Local Player

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 10, 2025) - AC St. Louis of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the signing of defender and St. Louis native Zach Bauer. Bauer is the third official signing by the club, and the third St. Louis born and bred player behind Steve Ralston and Tim Velten to agree to contract terms with the team in the past two weeks. Bauer, 23, played collegiately the past three years at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville, SIUE. Bauer also played one season at Boston University before transferring to SIUE.

“This is basically a dream come true,” said Bauer. “Growing up here in St. Louis you always aspire to play professionally, and the fact that I get to realize that dream with a new franchise here in my hometown is just amazing. I want to thank everyone who helped me reach this point, and I want to get out on the field as soon as we can."

Bauer, a St. Charles, Missouri native, was a four-year varsity starter at Christian Brothers College (CBC) High School. He helped CBC win the 2004 Missouri State High School championship in his senior year, the same year he was honored as Missouri’s Defensive Player of the Year. Bauer also played for the prestigious St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before enrolling in college. Bauer’s honors while at CBC include being named as a second team All-American, and as a first team All-Metro, All-State, and All-Midwest selection. In college at SIUE Bauer was honored as a first team All-Great Lakes Conference selection twice, and as a third team All-American in his junior year.

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Edmonton Officially Joins the NASL

Official Press Release

Edmonton gets NASL team in 2011

EDMONTON, AB - Fath Sports Ltd. has joined the newly formed NASL as a founding member and will start play in the NASL in 2011.

The NASL will compete in the second tier of soccer behind Major League Soccer (MLS) beginning in April 2010 in the United States and Canada. The NASL was established in November 2009 and is comprised of the following active teams:

2010 Teams

Carolina RailHawks FC Cary, North Carolina

Crystal Palace Baltimore Baltimore, Maryland

Miami FC Miami, Florida

Minnesota (Name TBA) Minneapolis, Minnesota

Montreal Impact Montreal, Quebec

Rochester Rhinos Rochester, New York

AC St Louis St. Louis, Missouri

Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa, Florida

Vancouver Whitecaps Vancouver, BC

For the 2010 season, the NASL's nine teams, together with three teams (Austin Aztex, Portland Timbers and Puerto Rico Islanders) from the United Soccer Leagues, will play in a second division league established and administered by the United States Soccer Federation. In 2011, the NASL will be joined by FC Edmonton and a team in Atlanta. The NASL and its member teams are committed to building on their long tradition of providing a high level of soccer to fans across the United States and Canada in 2010 and beyond.

The Edmonton team is owned by Tom and Dave Fath of Fath Sports, a division of The Fath Group. Mel Kowalchuk is the General Manager of Fath Sports.

Tom, Dave and Mel were involved in the Edmonton Cup, the friendly between Everton and River Plate held at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium on July 25th last summer.

The original NASL operated in Canada and the United States from 1968 through 1984. The Drillers beat the Chicago Sting 5-4 in front of 16,257 fans at Chicago Stadium to capture the 1981 NASL indoor championship.

Tom Fath (BSc, MBA, Gold Seal CCA) is President of O’Hanlon Paving, Vice Chair of Board of Directors of Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA), and a board member of the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA), the Derrick Club and Exciton Technologies Inc. and the Board of Governors of the NASL.

Dave Fath (BCET, NAIT Dip. Building Technology, Gold Seal CCA) has been employed by O'Hanlon Paving in the road building industry since 1978 and has occupied numerous field and office positions. Currently he is serving his second term on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Edmonton South

Mel Kowalchuk brings more than 25 years of successful professional sports experience to his role as General Manger of Fath Sports Ltd. Mel is no stranger to pro soccer having served as the president and GM of the CSL's Edmonton Brickmen and NPSL Edmonton Drillers. He also served as CSL president while operating the Brickmen.

The Fath Group includes O'Hanlon Paving, Fath Industries, Aubro Services, Hi Signs, DCR Camp Services, Brookwood Industrial Catering, Fath Business Parks Ltd. and now Fath Sports.

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Crystal Palace Baltimore Signs Three Players

Official Press Release

CRYSTAL PALACE BALTIMORE SIGN TRIO OF PROVEN PERFORMERS
Pejic Joins from Vancouver, Patterson and Yoshitake from Charleston

February 9th 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore have signed three players with proven abilities at the second division level, adding critical depth and experience to the 2010 squad. Defender Shaun Pejic joins from the Vancouver Whitecaps, while attack-minded pair Randi Patterson and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake were both with the Charleston Battery.

Palace Baltimore assistant coach Todd Wawrousek spoke about the new signings: "When we got Shaun in August last year at Vancouver, he was a season changer for us, solving our problems at center back. His qualities are he’s very poised, very consistent and very confident. He injects that important calming influence into the players around him. Yoshi is the kind of player who, whenever he’s on the ball, brings spectators to the edge of their seats. He has that kind of excitement to his game - he’s very pacy and he loves the challenge of taking on opponents 1-v-1. As a wide midfielder he’s a component that you really need to break teams down and he does that well. Randi has an incredible work ethic - he looks as energetic in the 85th minute of a game as he does in the 5th minute. He’s a very explosive player and he can change the game for you at any moment."

"We’re thrilled to have these three pivotal players in the mix," Wawrousek concluded. "When you have proven commodities in this league, the kind of players whose names you put check marks against when you’re planning to play against them, it puts you in a very strong position when you have them on your side. They are all consummate professionals and I look forward to working with them to bring out their best and to make them a part of a productive Palace team."

Shaun Pejic comes to Palace from fellow NASL and USSF Divison II club Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The 27-year old Hereford, England native signed for the Whitecaps for the final third of their 2009 season, making a total of nine appearances. Before moving to North America, the 6' 2" central defender had played 19 times for English Conference club York City FC in the 2008-09 season. Pejic was a member of the York side that reached the English Football Association Challenge Trophy final at Wembley Stadium on May 9, 2009, where they fell 2-0 to Stevenage Borough FC. Pejic spent the previous nine seasons with Wrexham AFC, during which time the club fluctuated between the English Division Two (now League One), Division Three (now League Two), League Two and Conference. He first joined the North Wales club as a youth trainee before making his first-team debut at age 18 in 2001, going on to make nearly 200 appearances through 2008. Pejic - whose maternal grandparents are Welsh - earned six caps for Wales at the U-21 international level.

Randi Patterson, a 24-year old from Hackensack, New Jersey, comes to us from Charleston where he scored an impressive 19 goals in his two seasons with the club. Prior to joining the South Carolina club, Patterson spent a year with the New York Red Bulls after they drafted him in the first round of the 2007 MLS suplemental draft, scoring once in just two appearances for the MLS side. The 5’ 9" forward has full national team credentials having represented Trinidad & Tobago on two occasions. Patterson spent four years at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he earned two-time Southern Conference Player of the Year and NCSAA All-American honors. He finished his college career with a remarkable 61 goals - fifth all time at UNCG - and 19 assists. In 2006, while at UNCG, he also played for PDL club Carolina Dynamo tallying 20 goals in as many games, helping his team advance to the 4th round of the US Open Cup, further than any PDL team has progressed before or since. Patterson has also played indoors with the Chicago Storm and the New Jersey Ironmen.

Speedy 28-year old Japanese winger Tsuyoshi Yoshitake also played last season with the Charleston Battery, tallying 6 goals and 5 assists in 27 appearances. The set-piece specialist scored from the penalty spot on his home debut against the Minnesota Thunder. Yoshi earned League Team of the Week recognition on five occasions,and was named Newcomer of the Year by his club. Before coming to the USA, the 5’ 8" native of Mie Prefecture old spent a year at Tokyo Verdy 1969, having spent the previous six seasons at Yokohama FC where he helped them win promotion to the J1 league in 2006. Yoshitake’s career J-League statistics include 150 games played with 15 goals and 10 assists.

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AC St. Louis sign former Rochester Rhino Tim Velten

Official Press Release

AC ST. LOUIS SIGNS LOCAL NATIVE TIM VELTEN

Velten Becomes Second Official Signing by the Club

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 5, 2025) - AC St. Louis of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the signing of defender and St. Louis native Tim Velten. Velten becomes the second official signing by the club, and the second St. Louis born and bred player behind Steve Ralston to join the team in the past week. Velten, 26, played professionally last year for the Rochester Rhinos and Harrisburg City Islanders. Velten played two years of collegiate soccer at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville before transferring to the University of Louisville for his junior and senior seasons.

“I am ecstatic to be coming home to St. Louis to play professional soccer,” said Velten. “It has always been my dream to play in my hometown in front of my family and friends, and it is certainly an honor to be playing for AC St. Louis. I know everyone is excited that St. Louis now has a team, and for me to be a part of it from the ground up is an amazing opportunity. I want to thank everyone who helped me to get where I am; my parents, all my coaches, and my friends. I'm excited about our fans, our stadium, and winning soccer games. I can't wait for the season to get started."

Velten is a native of Webster Groves, Missouri in suburban St. Louis where he was a four-year varsity starter at Webster Groves High School. Velten also played for the prestigious Busch Soccer Club and Scott Gallagher Soccer Club before enrolling in college. Velten has spent the last three seasons playing for the Rochester Rhinos on a brief loan spell, the Harrisburg City Islanders, and the Charleston Battery.

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Edmonton to join NASL in 2011

It's not official yet, but the Edmonton "Drillers" are coming back! Our sources told us earlier today that the official announcement of Edmonton joining the NASL would happen today and now Duane Rollins on his blog The 24th Minute has confirmed Edmonton have the fourth professional club in Canada. Our sources are also telling us that two "high-level" coaches from Europe are being hired by the new club.

The Edmonton Drillers were part of the original NASL from 1979 - 1982, playing in both the NASL outdoor and indoor league. They won the 1981 NASL Indoor championship.

We will update this post throughout the day as more details emerge.

Note: The logo above is the original Drillers logo, we cannot yet confirm if the new club will be using the same logo or the name Drillers.

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Building the NASL Community

Part of our goal here at NASLNews is to be a central point for NASL supporters to find news, information and links to NASL related sites, forums and blogs. In order to accomplish this goal, we've started a blog roll and link list on the left sidebar of our site. We will add links to any and all NASL or NASL club related site/forum/blog etc. that we find or is brought to our attention.

Part of the benefit of having your site listed is that we will be better able to find your stories and post and provide links to readers through our post and our twitter account. We are here to help grow the league and bring more attention to the work being done by fans across the country to support the NASL.

So if you write for or run a site, let us know and we'll add it to our link or blog roll. Already today we've added:

Blogs
Football in Miami and Beyond
The AC St. Louis Fanatic
Atlanta Soccer


Sites
TheCup.us
RhinoPit
RhinosZONE
Big Soccer - NASL Forum

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USSF Division-2 Pro League Logo Revealed

Division II Pro League? Whatever, it should only be around one season anyway.



Dave Trotter at the AC St. Louis Fanatic Blog has some opinions about the new logo

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USSF Division-2 2010 Schedule

Official Press Release

2010 USSF Division II Schedule Released

Nine NASL Teams Begin Play April 10th in Twelve Team League

MIAMI, FL (February 8, 2025) Each of the nine NASL teams has announced its 2010 home and away schedule. Participating teams will play a total of 30 league games, while competing, in the 2010 USSF Division II. The Regular Season will begin on April 10th and conclude on October 3rd. Each team will host 15 home games and contest 15 away games.

Each US based NASL team will also play at least one game in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 15 or 16 with the home venue and opponents to be determined at a later date. The two NASL Canadian based teams will compete in the 2010 Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

In conjunction with the release of the schedule the USSF has also unveiled details of the playoff format for this season. The 12-team league, consisting of two conferences of six teams, has adopted the following format:

• The first place team (based on total points, at the conclusion of the regular season) in the USL Conference and NASL Conference will become the top two seeds in the playoffs.
• The next six (6) best teams, based on total points, will round out the playoff field.
• The four teams with the fewest total points in the regular season are excluded from the playoffs.
• Playoffs will begin during the week starting Monday, October 4.
• Quarterfinals will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
• Semifinal round will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
• Championship will be a two-game, home-and-away series determined by total aggregate goals.
  Exact dates for playoff games are TBD.

Download a PDF of the schedule (list format) HERE.

Download a PDF of the schedule (calender format) HERE.

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USSF 2nd Division Schedule Out Today and We Have Some Details

Before the official USSF Second Division schedule is released later today (hopefully), we have a few details about the schedule and the league's playoff structure thanks to one of our sources.

• Season begins April 10th and end on Oct 3rd
• Playoffs will feature 8 teams, with each division winner being seeded 1 and 2 and then the next 6 teams based on total points qualifying
• Playoffs will feature two leg playoffs series at every round. Winner determined by total aggregate goals. No away goals rule (this still could be changed)

So there a little appetizer for you until the main course comes out and we can see the actual details of the schedule.

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RailHawks Re-Sign Gregory Richardson

Official Press Release

Richardson returning to RailHawks

Guyanese midfielder had 17 points in 14 matches last season

CARY, N.C. (Feb. 5, 2009) - Guyanese midfielder Gregory Richardson has re-signed with the Carolina RailHawks on a one-year deal with a club option for 2011, the club announced Friday.

Richardson joined the RailHawks in mid-season 2009 and made an immediate impact. Though he rated 17th on the team in minutes played (971), he tied for the team lead in assists (five) and was second in goals scored (six) and points (17).


“Signing Gregory is a huge bonus for us,” said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. “In the second half of the season, he was involved in so many of the goals that we scored. He’s got something a little bit different in the final third of the field where he can beat players and he can score. Those kinds of players are hard to find. Now that he knows his surroundings and he knows where he is, I think he can have a big season and I’m excited to have him back.”

Richardson made his RailHawk debut while on trial with the team in a July 3 friendly against Wilmington and assisted on Kupono Low’s 35th-minute goal. On July 26, he registered the third hat trick in club history when he scored three goals in a 4-0 win over Miami. Against Miami on Aug. 26, he had a goal and two assists. On Sept. 12, he scored the fastest goal in club history when he tucked one in in the second minute against Puerto Rico, and he had an assist in that game.

Richardson began his professional career in 2005-06, playing with Beacon and Pele FC in his native Guyana. In 2007, he signed with Joe Public FC of the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League. He led the team to the 2008 First Citizens Cup, scoring four goals in four games, and he was the top goal scorer and MVP of the tournament. He made a name for himself and Joe Public in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League when he scored five goals in four matches - including a hat trick plus an assist in a 4-0 romp over the New England Revolution - to lead Joe Public to the tournament’s group stage. In January 2009, Richardson went on trial with Toronto FC and appeared in three preseason matches for TFC. In February, he was traded to the Colorado Rapids, where he remained until his midseason transfer to the RailHawks.

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FC Tampa Bay Signs Julian Valentin

Official Press Release

FC TAMPA BAY ROWDIES SIGN U.S. NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER JULIAN VALENTIN

TAMPA, Fla. (February 4, 2025) - FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (FC Tampa Bay) announce the signing of American defender, Julian Valentin to the 2010 inaugural team roster. Valentin previously captained the U.S. U-20 national team and played for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.


Most recently, the Los Angeles Galaxy selected Valentin during the 2008 MLS SuperDraft as the 29th overall pick. Valentin debuted on October 26, 2024 during the Galaxy’s final regular season game against FC Dallas.

Valentin began his soccer career as a member of the U.S. U-17 national team that participated in the 2003 World Championships in Finland. He was also a member of the U.S. U-18 national team, as well as the captain of the U.S. Residency program in Bradenton, Fla. and a two-time Adidas Youth All-American.

“Julian is a natural leader on and off the field and has captained the U.S. at every level he has played at. He will be a leader which is invaluable,” said Paul Dalglish, head coach. “This is another very exciting signing for the Rowdies as the start of our inaugural season nears.”

From 2004 to 2007, Valentin played at Wake Forest University in 64 games, starting in 59, scoring nine goals. Valentin acquired numerous achievements during the three years at Wake Forest, including Soccer America Preseason All-American, NSCAA First Team All-South and the Second All-America, ACC First Team honors and was name to ESPN’s Academic All District III team. He was also a Soccer America First Team All-American in 2004 and 2005.

Valentin is the 15th player signed by FC Tampa Bay. Training camp and preseason begin on March 1, and the team will play five to six preseason games throughout the Tampa Bay area before regular season starts in mid-April.

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Steve Ralston to Sign with AC St. Louis

AC St. Louis will announce shortly the signing of former New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston.

Ralston, the current MLS all-time career leader in assists (135), appearances (378), starts (372) and minutes played (33,143), announced last week he would not be returning to the Revolution. Speculation had been made about a possible move to another MLS club, but he will instead make the move to the NASL. Ralston also holds the U.S. record for professional appearances (412)

The 35-year old midfielder served as the Revolution's captain for multiple seasons and was a popular player amongst fans of the club.

UPDATE #1

Official Press Release

STEVE RALSTON SIGNS WITH AC ST. LOUIS
Will Serve as Player-Assistant Coach

ST. LOUIS, MO (February 1, 2025) - AC St. Louis of the new North American Soccer League (NASL) announced the signing of St. Louis native Steve Ralston as the club's first official player. Ralston will also serve as an assistant coach for the team. Ralston, 35, is a 14-year veteran of Major League Soccer, and holds the record for most appearances by a professional player in the United States.

"This is a day I always dreamed would happen," said Ralston. "I think anyone who plays professional sports wants to play in their hometown. I am fortunate to get to do just that at this stage of my career. Obviously it is an exciting time for soccer in St. Louis since we now have our own professional team. I am honored to be the first player to become a part of this new franchise."

"Bringing a veteran leader into our team as a building block of our franchise is absolutely crucial for us," stated AC St. Louis Chairman Jeff Cooper. "The fact that he grew up in St. Louis and is a well known name to sports fans here is just a bonus. It is not everyday you get to bring home a player that has played the most games in the history of the MLS."

In addition to playing, Ralston will serve as an assistant coach to Head Coach Claude Anelka and Director of Player Development Francisco Filho.

"This is a unique role for me to have," said Ralston. "I think I am ready for the challenge. Having a chance to give your input as a

coach for a team that is being built is a special opportunity."

Ralston's name can be found throughout Major League Soccer's record book. Ralston is first all-time in the MLS in the following categories; games played (378), assists (135), and minutes played (33,143). Ralston is also a former member of the United States Men's National team and has been capped 36 times. In his MLS career Ralston played the last eight seasons with the New England Revolution. He was originally drafted by Tampa Bay in 1996, playing his first six seasons with the Mutiny.

Ralston attended Oakville High School in St. Louis. Ralston played one year of college soccer in St. Louis at Forest Park Community College for Head Coach Pat McBride. Ralston finished his collegiate career at Florida International University.

His honors include being named the MLS Rookie of the Year in 1996, and he has twice been a CONCACAF Gold Cup winner with the United States in 2005 and 2007. Ralston has four career goals with the United States, and was an alternate on the 2006 World Cup team. He scored the game winning-goal against Mexico on September 3, 2024 as the United States clinched a berth to the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Ralston and his wife Rachel have two daughters, Anna (8) and Clara (2), and one son Liam (4).

UPDATE #2

Steve Ralston showing off his #14 AC St. Louis jersey at today's press conference

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