Cleveland City Stars News Release - www.clevelandcitystars.com

Thursday, February 22, 2007

CLEVELAND, OH -- The Cleveland City Stars are proud to introduce Mark Schulte as their first signed player in the team’s history. Mark Schulte, a Brecksville native, will return to northeast Ohio to anchor the defense for Cleveland’s new USL Second Division Professional Soccer Club.

Schulte joins the Stars after spending a season playing in Iceland. Schulte is also the first American ever to play in Uruguay and one of an elite few to have played in South America.

The 6’3” University of Dayton graduate was honored as the Premier Development League’s Defender of the Year in 1999 for his outstanding play with the Twin Cities Tornado.

In 2000, the Tampa Bay Mutiny selected Schulte in the fifth round of the MLS Super Draft. When Major League Soccer reduced the field to ten teams from twelve, Schulte returned to Minnesota.

After four seasons with the Minnesota Thunder, a USL First Division club, he headed across the water to Iceland where he helped his team, IBV Vestmannaeyjar, qualify for the UEFA cup before returning to the States to play with the Columbus Crew. While with the Crew, Schulte played with and against the best North America has to offer.

“Mark’s vast experience and success at all levels of soccer and his ties to Northeast Ohio make him a perfect fit with the vision and mission of the Cleveland City Stars,” commented Aaron Tredway, the Stars Executive Director. “We look forward to his leadership on and off the field.”

The Cleveland City Stars will play a 20-game season with 10 home games to be played at Krenzler Field in Downtown Cleveland. The Stars hope to compete for the league championship and to qualify for the U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup.

“Even though I have played in countries where soccer is a religion, I can’t wait to get on the field in Cleveland and bring the beautiful game back to life for the fans here. There is still nothing like playing in front of the home crowd,” commented Schulte.