FENTON — AC St. Louis ran its unbeaten streak to four games, playing to a scoreless draw with the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps on Friday evening before a crowd of 2,312 at Anheuser-Busch Center.
AC St. Louis, which is 2-0-2 in its last four, is now 5-10-6 in USSF Division-2 pro league play while the division-leading Whitecaps are 8-3-11.
"It's always good to get a point, especially against one of the top teams in the league," said AC St. Louis defender and captain Jack Traynor (Howell North). "We came out and played a full 90. But still, it's a little disappointing because we feel like we had a chance to win tonight."
AC St. Louis finishes 0-1-3 against Vancouver, which makes the step up to Major League Soccer next year.
"Using the three ties as a barometer, this was by far our best overall performance against Vancouver," AC St. Louis coach Dale Schilly said. "We defended well, not just in the back but as a team all over the field. And we got forward a few times to create some chances. At this point, we're just missing that last touch, the pass that puts somebody in or creates a chance in the box.
"But overall, I thought we played well."
In the opening half, AC St. Louis keeper Alec Dufty was in position to stop a header from the Whitecaps' Martin Nash in the 11th minute. AC St. Louis appeared to score in the 38th minute, but Jeff Cosgriff's rebound goal was waved off because of an offside upfield.
"I know it was close, and it looked good to me," Traynor said. "But the flag was up. ..."
AC St. Louis finished the game with a strong second half, but most of its chances were from long range.
"At a certain point, you have to forget about possession and just get the ball into the box and see what happens," Schilly said.
AC St. Louis returns to action Saturday, Aug. 14, hosting the Portland Timbers in a 7:10 p.m. match at A-B Center.
Ambersley honored
AC St. Louis forward Mike Ambersley (DeSmet) was named USSF Division-2 player of the month for July. Ambersley scored four of his team-leading six goals in July, accounting for the lone tally in a 1-0 road victory in Baltimore on July 24 and the first hat trick in franchise history four days later in a 3-0 home victory over Portland.
