Gurson, Almeida First Two Players Selected for MASL International Challenge

St. Charles, MO (May 16, 2017) – The first two players to participate in the Major Arena Soccer League’s 2017 International Challenge have been announced. Cedar Rapids Rampage midfielder Gordy Gurson will join the USA squad and St. Louis Ambush midfielder Lucas Almeida will play for the International team.

The International Challenge match is slated for Friday, June 16 at 7:35 p.m. CT at the Family Arena. The match will feature players and All-Stars from across the league in a “USA versus The World” format.

Gurson is a native of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The 2016-17 season was his third in the MASL. He played for the Seattle Impact, St. Louis Ambush and joined Cedar Rapids midway through the 2015-16 season via trade. He had 23 goals and 10 assists and played in all 20 games for the Rampage last season.

Almeda hails from Sao Paulo, Brazil and has played three years professionally. After a standout rookie season (2014-15) with the Tulsa Revolution, Lucas spent the past two seasons with the Ambush. He tallied eight goals and nine assists in 16 games for St. Louis last season.

Two more players will be announced this Friday, May 19 with more announcements coming next week. Each MASL team was invited to nominate their players for the International Challenge match and the International Challenge committee will select the rosters.

Leading up to this year’s International Challenge, the Ambush and Family Arena will host the 2017 MASL Player Combine on Friday, June 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Combine will give potential players from all over the chance to work out in front of coaches and team representatives from across the league, and have the chance to earn an invite to a preseason MASL camp. Four players from the combine will also be selected to participate in the International Challenge game that night. For more information and registration for the combine, visit stlambush.com or call the Ambush office at 636.477.6363.

Tickets for the MASL International All-Star Challenge are now on sale. Prices start at $12, with group prices starting at $10. To purchase visit the Family Arena box office, Metrotix.com or call the St. Louis Ambush at 636.477.6363.

For up-to-date information about the International Challenge and the players participating, visit the St. Louis Ambush website at stlambush.com and the Major Arena Soccer League’s website at maslsoccer.com.