Steamers sign dynamic duo from SIU Edwardsville
Published on March 11, 2004 under Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
St. Louis Steamers News Release
(St. Louis, March 11, 2004) -- The St. Louis Steamers have signed two former stars at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) â Cal Thomas and Addae Rique â for the critical final month of the 2003-2004 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) season. Thomas, a senior forward from Rochester, Ill., and Rique, a junior midfielder from Tunapuna, Trinidad & Tobago both were named to the NSCAA/adidas 2003 Division II men's All-America First Team.
The Steamers also announced Thursday the signing of Fernando "Tati" Errecalde, a professional indoor veteran who contributed 21 points in just 16 games for the Steamers during the 2001 World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) season.
The MISL "roster freeze" date is today (March 11). The Steamers (10-17) are positioning themselves for a playoff push during the final quarter of the 2003-2004 regular season. Entering Thursday night's game between the Cleveland Force and San Diego Sockers, the Steamers trail San Diego by ½ game in the hunt for the sixth and final MISL playoff berth.
Thomas and Rique led SIUE to a 16-4-1 record this past fall and to the NCAA Division II regional final, where the Cougars lost 5-2 to then undefeated Truman State University. Thomas, 23, played in 79 games in four seasons at SIUE and completed his collegiate career with 13 goals and six assists as a senior in 2003. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound forward also led SIUE with five game-winning goals this past season. Thomas is a native of Rochester, Ill, just south of Springfield, Ill., and was a team captain and MVP of the Rochester High School state runner-up team his senior year. He also was a member of the Sangamon Starsborn (U-19) 1998 indoor national championship team. He originally enrolled at Indiana University and redshirted one season for the Hoosiers before transferring to SIUE.
Rique, 25, transferred to SIUE from Missouri Baptist University and took the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) by storm, garnering Player of the Year honors in 2003. Rique, who played high school soccer at St. Augustine in Trinidad & Tobago, led the GLVC in scoring in 2003 with 14 goals and 10 assists. Rique, a 5-9, 160-pound midfielder, had four game-winning goals in 2003 and was second on the team in shots with 61. He elected to forgo his senior season at SIUE to enter the professional soccer ranks.
Errecalde, 29, is a native of Tandil, Argentina. The 5-6, 135-pound veteran midfielder made an instant impact for the Steamers during the 2001 WISL season as he scored seven goals and added 14 assists in just 16 games. Errecalde played part of one season (1996-97) with the Toronto Shooting Stars of the NPSL, and three seasons with the NPSL Detroit Rockers (1996-97 through 1998-99). He played youth soccer for the Independiente club team in Buenos Aires from age 14 to 20 and was a member of the 1994-95 Argentine indoor national team. Errecalde currently coaches youth soccer in the Detroit area. He also recently signed a contract to play outdoors for the Windsor Border Stars, a new entry in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, which begins play in late May.
The Steamers' next game is Sunday, March 14 at 5 p.m. (PST) against the San Diego Sockers at the San Diego Sports Arena. The game is the fourth and final matchup of the year between the teams as both squads attempt to secure an MISL playoff berth. San Diego won the first battle of the season â 8-1 Dec. 14 in San Diego. However, the Steamers defeated the Sockers in the past two matchups at The Family Arena: 6-2 Feb. 7, and 6-3 Feb. 16.
Sunday's game starts a stretch of nine games in 23 days for the Steamers to conclude the 2003-2004 MISL regular season. Of those nine games, only three are at home: March 17 at 7:35 p.m. against the Dallas Sidekicks; March 19 at 7:35 p.m. against the Kansas City Comets; and March 27 at 1:05 p.m. against the Milwaukee Wave.
In the March 17 St. Patrick's Day game, Steamers players will wear special green jerseys and a raffle will be held during the match for a chance to win autographed game-worn jerseys.
March 19 is SCCYSA (St. Charles County Youth Soccer Association) Night with the Steamers. All SCCYSA players, coaches, and their families have the opportunity to purchase a ticket for the game and receive a second ticket of the same value free. Also, at halftime, 10 SCCYSA teams will be recognized on the field.
The March 27 season finale against Milwaukee at The Family Arena is "Fan Appreciation Game." All fans with a paid admission can redeem their ticket stub for a free admission to a Steamers home game prior to Dec. 31, 2004.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from March 11, 2004
- Force Falls To San Diego For First Time In Two Seasons - Cleveland Force
- Steamers sign dynamic duo from SIU Edwardsville - St. Louis Steamers
- KiXX ink defender Edgar Bartolomeu - Philadelphia KiXX
- MISL Injury Report - MISL 2
- Veteran rejoins Blast for playoff run - Baltimore Blast
- Force Signs Second Brazilian To Contract - Cleveland Force
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