Dec. 11, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - Four Atlantic 10 Conference men's soccer players, Calum Angus, Brandon Barklage and Kyle Patterson from Saint Louis and Charlotte's Chris Salvaggione have been invited to participate in the 2009 adidas MLS Player Combine as announced by Major League Soccer.

The combine, which will be held at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Jan. 9-13, will be attended by the coaching and management staffs of all 15 MLS teams in preparation for the MLS SuperDraft slated for Jan. 15 in St. Louis.

Saint Louis is one of just three schools that will send three or more players to the combine, joining Wake Forest (5) and Duke (3).

Angus, widely considered one of the top defenders in the country, garnered first-team All-Conference honors in 2008 after being named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. A MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, he missed time early in the season due to injury but ended up anchoring the league's top defense in 16 games. Offensively, Angus has assisted on two goals this season and had the free kick that led to Kyle Hayes' game-winning goal against Drake in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Barklage broke out for 24 points (7G, 10A) en route to first-team All-Conference honors. He scored crucial goals for the Billikens, including game-tying tallies at Loyola Marymount and Charlotte as well as the game-winner against Fordham in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Championship. He also had the game-tying assist on James Jaramillo's game winner in the Denver matchup. Including his first two seasons at New Mexico, Barklage has accumulated 54 points (15G, 24A) in his collegiate career.

Patterson has been one of the Billikens' most explosive scorers the past two seasons. A MAC Hermann Trophy candidate, he led the team with 29 points (12G, 5A) this season en route to first-team All-Conference accolades. Patterson finished his career tied for 17th on SLU's career scoring chart with 73 points (29G, 15A). The 2007 A-10 Offensive Player of the Year was named co-MVP of the Creighton Diadora Challenge earlier this year and was a two-time A-10 Player of the Week.

Salvaggione was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year as well as first-team All-A-10 for the second straight season.

The Monument, Colorado native led the Atlantic 10 in goals (15) and points (38) and ranked among the nation's leaders in points (2.00). His 15 goals are the fourth highest single-season total in school history and the most goals scored by a Charlotte player since Doug Pratt scored 18 goals in 1992. He led a 49ers offensive attack which scored 44 goals to rank nationally in scoring offense at 2.22 goals per game.

Salvaggione, a 2008 Hermann Trophy semifinalist, was named Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year and earned first-team All-A-10 honors for the second straight season. He was named a third-team member of the TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Team of the Season after leading the Atlantic 10 in goals (15) and points (38) and ranking among the nation's leaders in points (2.00). His 15 goals are the fourth highest single-season total in school history and the most goals scored by a Charlotte player since Doug Pratt scored 18 goals in 1992. He led a 49ers offensive attack which scored 44 goals to rank nationally in scoring offense at 2.22 goals per game.