AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, finished their inaugural season with a 2-1 loss on Saturday night against the Rochester Rhinos in front of 3,347 fans. AC St. Louis finishes their first season in professional soccer with a record of 7-15-8.

Chris Salvaggione opened the scoring in just the third minute of play as he collected a deflected ball inside the penalty area. Luis Gil, making a start at forward, took the initial shot which deflected off at least one Rochester defender before falling to Salvaggione who rammed it home for his third goal of the year.

Rochester, in need of a win to have a chance at the first seed in the playoffs, tied the game on a 60th minute goal by Isaac Kissi. The Rochester forward appeared to rise above St. Louis keeper Alec Dufty on the goal line to head home a cross. 20 minutes later Rochester would get their much need go-ahead goal as Isaac Kissi connected on a corner from Agustin Nunez for his second goal of the night.

St. Louis would make a valiant stoppage time attempt at a comeback only to have the equalizing goal disallowed for offside. Goalkeeper Alec Dufty was judged to be the offending player as he came all the way forward in the final minute. St. Louis played a ball over Dufty’s head as he back-pedaled into an on-side position before it bounced off a player and into the back of the net.

“I realized I was offside so I moved back as Luke Kreamalmeyer headed it over me,” recounted Dufty. “I saw the ball go off one of their players hands and into the goal. I didn’t play the ball so It could not have been me that was offside, and the referee informed me the infraction was not on my side of the field.”

Winger Luke Kreamalmeyer was informed differently by the linesman. Kreamalmeyer told reporters following the match that the assistant referee informed him Alec Dufty was offside. The disallowed goal denied AC St. Louis a chance at posting an even home record for the season. The club finished with a 5-6-4 at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.

“Tonight was an indicator of what this team is about in this league right now,” stated head coach Dale Schilly. “We are close. We are very close to the upper echelon of this league. We are right there, but we are not there yet.”

ABOUT AC ST. LOUIS
AC St. Louis will play its first year of professional soccer in the USSF Division 2 Pro League in 2010. The team was formally launched in November of 2009. AC St. Louis will play their home games at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in suburban St. Louis. For information call 1-888-STL-GOAL.