Many Chicago Fire fans have kept a close eye on Wednesday night's U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round opponent, given that the United Soccer League (USL) club served as Chicago's second-division affiliate for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
But the Fenton, Mo.-based club has a different look to it in 2017, making now the right time to revisit the club that stands between the Fire and a trip to the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
THERE'S PREKI
One name is enough to identify the head coach of Saint Louis FC, local legend and the only two-time MLS MVP, Preki. After growing up in St. Louis and dominating for the St. Louis Storm of the MISL, he went across the pond to England to play for Everton and Portsmouth before returning in 1996 to star for the Kansas City Wizards of the newly formed MLS. He excelled in his two stints with the club, scoring 71 total goals between 1996-2000 and 2002-05. Preki also thrived with the U.S. Men’s National team between 1996 and 2001, scoring his most memorable goal in a 1-0 win over Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Moving to the bench after retirement, Preki was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2007 for his work with Chivas USA and also was the 2014 USL Champion with the Sacramento Republic. He was introduced as Saint Louis FC's head coach on October 12, 2016. Read more about his latest adventure here courtesy of US Soccer.
HOW THEY GOT HERE
Saint Louis FC, in its third year of operation, makes its second trip to the U.S. Open Cup's Fourth Round, falling short a year ago with a 2-0 loss to MLS-bound Minnesota United FC. This year, Saint Louis defeated FC Wichita of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) by a score of 4-3, coming from behind with a stoppage time goal and winning in extra time to advance to the Third Round. In that match, Saint Louis FC traveled to face PDL side (and Open Cup slayers of Indy Eleven) Michigan Bucks, whom they knocked off by a 2-1 margin to set up Wednesday's clash with the Fire.
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Louis FC currently stands in 11th place in the USL Eastern Conference standings, coming off a 2-1 loss last weekend to sixth-place Bethlehem Steel FC. The club is 3-2 at home this season, with their latest home win coming against Toronto FC II.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Forward Christian Volesky is at the heart of the Saint Louis offense this year, scoring four goals in 11 games this season. Volesky has enjoyed success at the pro level, having scored eight goals to lead another USL side, the Rochester Rhinos, to the league's 2015 championship, and went on to lead the Rhinos again in 2016 with 12 goals.
Adding a bit of intrigue to the match is a potential head-to-head meeting of Volesky and his longtime college teammate, Chicago Fire defender/midfielder Matt Polster. The two were leaders on the SIU-Edwardsville squad that reached the NCAA Tournament in 2014.
Another targetman, Jose Angulo, boasts four goals in just nine games this season, adding two assists in the process. All four of Angulo’s goals were scored with his dominant left foot, including one from a set piece. Angulo first joined the pro ranks with the New England Revolution straight out of high school in 2008 and has been a productive player for numerous lower-division clubs in his career, winning the 2013 USL MVP award when he scored 15 goals in 23 games for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Another STLFC name that Fire fans may recognize is that of Tony Walls, an alumnus of the Chicago Fire PDL squad who made one first team appearance for the Fire in the 2012 season. Walls, who played collegiately at UW-Green Bay, also starred for the Rochester Rhinos as recently as 2015.
