St. Louis Ambush CEO Shelly Clark announced the addition of two new players to the roster ahead of the weekend’s schedule. Defender Raphael Nascimento comes to the Ambush from the Florida Tropics, having been traded to the Ambush for the remainder of the 2017-18 season for future considerations. Midfielder Justin Stinson is a newcomer to the arena soccer ranks. Per team and league policies, terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Nascimento is a native of Boston, Massachusetts and grew up in Brazil. Nascimento played for America, Santa Cruz and Clube Atletico Mineiro during his youth in Brazil. Before moving to the states for college, he gained professional soccer experience with Ipatinga Futebol Clube, who have played at the highest level in Brazil, Série A. In 2010 Nascimento moved back to the US to play for Marshalltown Community College before transferring to Grand View University, for the remainder of his college career.
During his college years, Nascimento played with the Des Moines Menace (USL PDL). After completing 4 years at Marshalltown Community College, Nascimento got his start in professional soccer with the Tampa Bay Rowdies organization. The current season is his second in the MASL. He appeared in 17 games with the Florida Tropics during the 2016-17 season and one game this season.
Justin Stinson is a local product from St. Charles, Missouri. He began playing youth soccer at age four and club soccer with Scott Gallagher when he was seven. At the age of ten, he traveled to England to play with West Ham Youth Academy. His high school soccer team was Francis Howell Central. Justin played collegiate soccer locally at Lewis and Clark Community College and at Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona. He played locally for the St. Louis Lions (USL PDL) during their 2017 season, appearing in 13 games.
Both players have been added to the Ambush active roster and are eligible for selection inSaturday’s game against the Kansas City Comets. The Ambush host the Comets Saturdayat 7:05 p.m. at the Family Arena.
Following Saturday’s game, the Ambush take to the road to visit the Florida Tropics at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, Florida on Friday, January 12 at 6:35 p.m. CT. The next home game will be Friday, January 19 at 7:35 p.m. CT, when the Syracuse Silver Knights visit the Family Arena.
