Troy Cole and Chris Salvaggione Find New Pro Contracts

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.


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.

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, 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.”

Chris Salvaggione Signs With Charlotte Eagles

S&E Entertainment client Chris Salvaggione has signed a professional contract to play with the Charlotte Eagles of the USLPRO league in 2011.

Blessed with an incredible technical ability and a student's love of the game, Salvaggione returns to Charlotte after playing collegiately at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. While at UNC Charlotte he was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and the NSCAA/Adidas All-Mid-Atlantic second team as a junior, and was the A-10 Offensive Player of the Year, an NSCAA Second Team All-American, and a Hermann Trophy semi-finalist as a senior.

Salvaggione also played in the USL Premier Development League for the Real Colorado Foxes and the Colorado Rapids Reserve Team.

"We are very excited for Chris to be signing with the Charlotte Eagles," Jeremy Gunn, Salvaggione's former college coach. "He will be returning to the city where he had a standout collegiate career and made such a great impression culminating on him being a Hermann Trophy Candidate and an NSCAA All-American.
"I have seen Chris develop as a high school, collegiate, and professional player while also seeing him mature into a fine young man. His former teammates will now get to look forward to playing him a few months time in an exhibition game! We really enjoy working with the Eagles, most recently hosting their exhibition matches against the New England Revolution of the MLS, and Bolton Wanderers FC of the English Premier League.
"We benefit greatly from having such a fine organization on our doorstep that continues to strengthen the soccer community of Charlotte. We wish Chris and his new team the best of luck this year."

Following school, Salvaggione was drafted in the third round (38th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution and trialed with several clubs in Germany, including FC Saarbrucken, FSV Frankfurt and KSV Klein-Karben. Turning down contract offers in Germany, the Fort Collins, Colorado native signed his first professional contract with A.C. St. Louis of USSF Division 2 in 2010, and nearly helped the expansion club secure a playoff berth.

"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."