AMBUSH HOST TWO DIVISION RIVALS THIS WEEKEND

by Jim Fossell

St. Charles, Mo

The St. Louis Ambush host two division rivals in back-to-back home games Friday and Saturday at the Family Arena. The Tulsa Revolution (1-10) come to town for the first time ever Friday, January 23 at 7:35 p.m. and the Wichita B-52s (7-6) invade the Family Arena for the only time this season Saturday, January 24 at 7:35 p.m.

Friday’s match against Tulsa is the first of three meetings between the Revolution and Ambush this season. The Revolution began play in the Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) last season and are a revival of the original Revolution that played the 2007-08 season in the old American Indoor Soccer League (AISL). Today’s St. Louis Ambush can trace their lineage back to Tulsa. The only other professional indoor soccer team to call Tulsa home was the Tulsa Ambush, who played one season (1991-92) in Tulsa before the franchise was sold to Dr. Abraham Hawatmeh and moved to St. Louis for the 1992-93 season, marking the beginning of the original St. Louis Ambush.

Tulsa comes to town as a team in transition. On January 14, the Revolution released first-year head coach David Yates after he led the team to a 1-9 record. On January 20, the team promoted assistant coach Alex Miranda to interim head coach for the remainder of the season and announced a move from the Cox Business Center to the Expo Square Pavilion at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds.

Friday’s contest also marks the home debut of Gordy Gurson, the league’s leading goal scorer, who was acquired in a trade January 12.  Gurson tallied his first goal and first assist as a member of the Ambush last Saturday against Wichita.

While Saturday’s match against Wichita is the final of three between the two teams, it is the first to be played at the Family Arena. After losing the first two battles on the B-52s’ turf, the Ambush are hungry for a win in front of the home crowd Saturday night. Saturday’s game also marks a homecoming for Wichita defender Mike Mesle. The St. Charles native appeared in 18 games for the Ambush last season and ranked second on the team in blocks (29) and also contributed four goals and four assists.

Saturday night, St. Louis indoor soccer stars from the past take to the pitch for an alumni game at halftime, featuring players and coaches from the original Steamers (1979-88) and Storm (1989-92).

Those players and coaches include Bob Bozada, Jeff Cacciatore, Pete Collico, Eric Delabar, Daryl Doran, Don Doran, Emil Dragicevic, Don Droege, Mark Frederickson, Ed Gettemeier, Tony Glavin, John Hayes, Larry Hulcer, Chris Kenny, Ty Keough, Mark Mathis, Mark Moser, Dan Muesenfechter, Mike O’Mara, Steve Pecher, Don Popovic, Tim Rooney, John Stremlau, Steve Sullivan, Al Trost, Paul Turin and Tim Walters. Family Arena doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and alumni players will sign autographs on the concourse at 6:00.

For the latest Ambush news, watch the Ambush official website, stlouisambush.com and the team’s Facebook page, facebook.com/stlouisambush. Group and single game tickets are available for all remaining Ambush home games. Call the Ambush office at 636-477-6363 for more information. Single game tickets can be purchased at the Family Arena box office or online at metrotix.com.