The St. Louis Ambush soccer club today announced the signing of midfielder Jeff DiMaria for the 2013-14 season. Head Coach Daryl Doran said DiMaria will serve as his assistant coach in addition to his playing duties. “Jeff was one of the first names on my list when I started to assemble this roster,” Doran said, “he is a leader on and off the turf. He has the respect of his fellow players and I’m thrilled to bring him back to the game.”
In addition to DiMaria, the franchise announced the signing of St. Charles native Mike Mesle, Florissant native Pat McSheehy and Corey Adamson. Both McSheehy and Adamson were offered contracts as a result of their performance in the team’s open tryouts held August 3 and 4.
The 36-year old DiMaria is no stranger to indoor soccer fans. DiMaria played five seasons with the St. Louis Steamers between 2000 and 2006, and quickly became a fan favorite for his tenacious game play. “Jeff definitely has a lot of heart and gives the game one hundred percent,” Doran said. The respect DiMaria has earned from his fellow players is exemplified by the fact that he was selected team captain for three of his five years with the Steamers.
Prior to his professional indoor career, DiMaria was a two-time All State player at CBC High School, played two seasons at the University of Connecticut, then finished his collegiate career with two seasons at St. Louis University and is a member of the Billiken Hall of Fame. His amateur career included playing for the Scott Gallagher U-19 national championship team in 1996 and the U-23 national championship team in 1998. DiMaria hasn’t just won championships, he has collected them. His amateur record includes seven national championships.
DiMaria’s professional career began when the Colorado Rapids of MLS drafted him in 2000. His indoor career kicked off when he signed with the Steamers, who were then playing a summer schedule as part of the WISL. In 2003, Jeff returned to the outdoor pitch when he played for the St. Louis Strikers of the Premier Developmental League (PDL). Also in 2003, DiMaria played for the United States National Futsal Team.
DiMaria said he is excited to be part of the new St. Louis Ambush. He said, “We have great soccer fans here in St. Louis and I am honored to be able to play for them again.”
DiMaria and his wife Sara have four children and reside in Fenton.
The 24-year old Mike Mesle is a defender who played in the MISL for the Wichita Wings during the 2012-13 season. Mike is a 2012 graduate of Ottawa (KS) University, where he started all 75 games during a stellar collegiate career. He earned Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors five times. Mesle also played outdoor soccer during the summer for the Springfield Demize in 2010 and the St. Louis Lions in 2011 and 2012.
Patrick McSheehy is a 2002 graduate of Webster University, where he was a four-year letter winner for the Gorloks in both men’s soccer (1997-2001) and baseball (1998-2002). In men’s soccer, he was a four-time All-SLIAC recipient and was named SLIAC Player of the Year in 2000. McSheehy also helped lead the Webster men’s soccer team to the first two NCAA Tournament berths in the program’s history in 1999 and 2000.
Corey Adamson hails from Clearwater, Florida. The 25-year old forward spent his collegiate career (2006-10) playing for USC-Aiken. He has also played for the Atlanta Blackhawks (PDL), Panama City Beach Pirates (PDL), Las Vegas Legends (PASL) and Houston Dutch Lions (PDL).
In building a roster from the ground up for the expansion franchise, Coach Doran has held to a strategy of signing St. Louis players. With three of the team’s first four signings being local guys, that goal is off to a good start.
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