Two More Former AC St. Louis Players Sign with New Teams

Former AC St. Louis midfielder Troy Cole has signed with the new FC New York franchise of USL PRO. Also, it was announced recently that Cole’s former ACSTL teammate, midfielder Chris Salvaggione, has signed with USL PRO’s Charlotte Eagles.

Troy Cole

Cole, who will turn 25 in April, played in 28 of AC St. Louis’ 30 USSF D2 games in 2010. Cole played his college ball at Mars Hill College in North Carolina, where he was captain his senior year and worked in 2009 as an assistant. Cole played in 2009 for the PDL Atlanta Blackhawks.

Growing up in Southern California, Cole had the unique experience of living five minutes away from the training facilities for the 1994 USMNT  World Cup squad. “I remember attending many of their training sessions at the age of 8 and watching my favorite players at the time … Eric Wynalda, John Harkes, Cobi Jones, and Alexi Lalas,” Cole stated last year in an interview with the NASL Fanatic. Troy’s father played college soccer and was his coach until the age of 15.

One of the highlights of Cole’s rookie season was playing a U.S. Open Cup match against the LA Galaxy in his hometown. Having about fifty friends and family members cheering him on, and playing against the red-hot Galaxy, was a huge thrill. AC St. Louis held the Galaxy scoreless for seventy minutes before succumbing 2-0.

Troy stopped in St. Louis on his trek east to join FC New York. He told IMS, “I couldn’t be more excited and thrilled to be joining FC New York,” said the Californian. But the young midfielder didn’t forget the fans in St. Louis from ACSTL’s star-crossed 2010 season. “I want to give a shout out to the all the AC St.Louis fans from last year, and especially the St. Louligans supporters group, who stood behind the players all year long despite what was going on off the field.”

Chris Salvaggione

Cole’s 2010 teammate, Chris Salvaggione, has signed with the Charlotte Eagles. It will be a homecoming for the Colorado native, as he finished his college career at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Salvaggione joined AC St. Louis after trialing with German clubs in 2010. Salvaggione told the Fanatic last summer that “my time in Europe was quite an adventure. I went over to train with a lower league team called KSV Klein-Karben, hoping that I would be able to get into the team and start moving my way up from there but the level wasn’t quite what I was looking for. I had a short trial with FSV Frankfurt, which was pretty strange in itself because with such a big language barrier and no translator there to help, it got pretty frustrating.”

“After that I went to Saarbrucken, on the border of France and Germany,” he continued. “That trial went really well. I stayed there for a week and then ended up getting invited back for another trial during their preseason in the spring. When I went back the second time I trialed for a week and played in a game with their second team and at the end of that trial I was offered a contract to stay over there.”

Salvaggione came back to mull over the offer, and tried out for the expansion AC St. Louis squad.  He decided to stay stateside and accepted their offer.  Salvaggione, who will turn 24 in April, missed several games because of injury, but ended up playing in 19 league matches, scoring three goals and adding an assist in 2010. Chris had played for PDL sides the Colorado Springs Blizzard, the DFW Tornados,  the Austin Aztex U-23 and the Real Colorado Foxes before signing his first pro contract in 2010.

Salvaggione, a 5’10″ midfielder/forward, is pumped about playing in Charlotte. “I am excited to play for the Eagles and return to Charlotte,” Salvaggione said. “The University and the city were incredibly supportive while I was in college, and I am ready to show that my game has progressed, and that I can be an impact player for the Eagles. The expanded schedule and the inclusion of so many great teams is going to make for a competitive season, and I am confident that between the coaching staff, the players’ dedication, and the incredible community support, that the Eagles can be one of the league’s top teams.”

Former AC St. Louis players are finding new homes after the demise of their team. Leading goal-scorer Mike Ambersley signed with FC Tampa Bay, and goalkeeper Alec Dufty is doing well in his quest to find a spot on the Chicago Fire’s roster. Assists leader Luke Kreamalmeyer signed with the Montreal Impact. Brad Stisser recently signed with the Rochester Rhinos, and IMSoccer News has heard that another former AC St. Louis player will be joining Salvaggione with the Eagles. AC St. Louis captain Jack Traynor has acquainted himself well with Orlando City SC as the team has beaten two MLS clubs in preseason competition, and sources indicate that Traynor will sign with the Orlando club.