St. Louis Makes First Trip To Montreal Wednesday

ST. LOUIS, MO (July 21, 2010) – AC St. Louis, playing in the USSF Division 2 Pro League, visit the Montreal Impact this evening for a 6:30 p.m. Central kick-off. The match can be viewed live at www.ac-stlouis.com via live web streaming. The match is the third in a four game road swing that has already seen St. Louis visit Minnesota and Austin, Texas. AC St. Louis beat Montreal 3-0 just a week and a half ago on July 10 in St. Louis.

“Montreal will be gunning for us,” said Head Coach Dale Schilly. “Their head coach has had some quotes in the paper lighting some people up. They have made some changes. They have dropped some players and brought some new guys on. Montreal is going to be tough.”

AC St. Louis will feature a new face in the backline tonight. Yesterday the club announced the acquisition of defender Chris Schuler for a four-game loan spell from Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. Schuler, 22, is a 6’4” center back that was drafted in the third round of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft with the 39th overall selection. Schuler attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where he was a four-year standout. While at Creighton Schuler was honored as the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year for his junior season, and was also named an NSCAA All-American. Schuler was named to the All-MVC team three times during his career. Schuler, a native of Aurora, Illinois, is a product of the prestigious Chicago Magic Soccer Club.

The addition of Schuler means a probable change in the backline. Team Captain Jack Traynor likely moves to left-back, while Schuler is partnered by Zach Bauer or Tim Velten in the middle. Mark Bloom is expected to continue his run of starts at the right-back position.

Head Coach Dale Schilly will have to shuffle his lineup due to some walking injured such as; Zach Bauer – right hamstring, Mike Ambersley – right hip abductor, Brad Stisser – right ankle sprain, and Anthony O’Garro – right knee sprain. Regardless of injury all four are on the trip and expecting to play. Midfielder Jeff Cosgriff is definitely out for tonight’s match due his ejection from last Saturday night’s game for a handball in the opposing penalty area.

The big loss for St. Louis is forward Chris Salvaggione, who left Saturday night’s game in Austin early on with a left ankle sprain. Salvaggione had been on a two game goal-scoring streak before suffering the injury. Plus, Salvaggione had been an integral part in nearly every St. Louis goal in the games against Montreal and Minnesota last week. Another potential selection problem facing the AC St. Louis coaching staff is Brazilian winger Gauchinho, who suffered a groin strain prior to last Saturday’s game at Austin and was unable to play. Gauchinho is listed as questionable by the St. Louis training staff, and could be a game time decision.

Goals will have to come from at least two new faces since Salvaggione and Cosgriff were on the score sheet last time against Montreal. Both squads are looking for wins since they have each posted just one in their last five games. The difference being St. Louis has a win and two ties, Montreal a win and four losses. The good news as head coach Dale Schilly stated is St. Louis heads into a road game knowing they are capable of taking points off their opposition. A position they have not been in this year until now.

AC St. Louis next returns home on Saturday July 28 match against the Portland Timbers. Tickets are still available and can be obtained by calling 1-888-STL-GOAL, or by visiting www.ac-stlouis.com.