{{short description|American soccer player}} {{Notability|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Mike Ambersley |image = Mike-Ambersley-soccer-player.jpg |fullname = Michael Ambersley |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|2|14}} |birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, United States |height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}} |position = Forward |currentclub = |clubnumber = |youthyears1 = 2001–2005 |youthclubs1 = Indiana Hoosiers |years1 = 2002 |clubs1 = Chicago Fire Premier |caps1 = 5 |goals1 = 4 |years2 = 2004 |clubs2 = St. Louis Strikers |caps2 = 11 |goals2 = 3 |years3 = 2006 |clubs3 = FC Dallas |caps3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |years4 = 2006–2007 |clubs4 = Rochester Raging Rhinos |caps4 = 36 |goals4 = 3 |years5 = 2008 |clubs5 = Atlanta Silverbacks |caps5 = 0 |goals5 = 0 |years6 = 2009 |clubs6 = Rochester Rhinos |caps6 = 18 |goals6 = 2 |years7 = 2010 |clubs7 = AC St. Louis |caps7 = 23 |goals7 = 9 |years8 = 2011–2013 |clubs8 = Tampa Bay Rowdies<ref>Formerly known as '''FC Tampa Bay''' through 2011.</ref> |caps8 = 60 |goals8 = 19 |years9 = 2013 |clubs9 = Minnesota United |caps9 = 13 |goals9 = 0 |years10 = 2014 |clubs10 = Indy Eleven |caps10 = 26 |goals10 = 6 |years11 = 2015–2016 |clubs11 = Saint Louis FC |caps11 = 50 |goals11 = 6 |totalcaps = 240 |totalgoals = 54 |nationalyears1 = 2002 |nationalteam1 = United States U20 |nationalcaps1 = 4 |nationalgoals1 = 0 |medaltemplates = |club-update = October 9, 2016 |ntupdate = October 5, 2012 }}
'''Mike Ambersley''' (born February 14, 1983) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a striker. The last club he played for was Saint Louis FC in the United Soccer League.
==Career==
===College and amateur=== Ambersley attended De Smet Jesuit High School where he was a NSCAA and Parade Magazine High School All American soccer player and the 2000 Missouri Player of the Year. He attended Indiana University where he played soccer from 2001 to 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/ambersley_mike00.html |title=Indiana University Player Profile |publisher=Iuhoosiers.cstv.com |date=February 14, 1983 |accessdate=August 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210045440/http://iuhoosiers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/ambersley_mike00.html |archivedate=February 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> He played for the Under 20 U.S. National Team from 2001 to 2002. Ambersley was on the roster during trips to Mexico, the Netherlands, and Spain. He suffered a back injury his sophomore year and redshirted the 2003 season. In 2002, he played for the Chicago Fire Premier of the Premier Development League during the collegiate off season. Ambersley started 82 of 86 games during his college career at Indiana where he scored 18 goals and 20 assists. He played in two Final Fours while at Indiana scoring 2 goals and adding 2 assists in 4 games. Ambersley scored the game winning penalty kick in the 2004 National Championship game.
===Professional=== On January 20, 2006, FC Dallas selected Ambersley in the 4th round (43rd overall) in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. He never played a game with Dallas before being released at the end of April 2006.<ref>[http://web.mlsnet.com/history/register.jsp?content=players&club=t104 FC Dallas: All Time MLS Player Register] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312121624/http://web.mlsnet.com/history/register.jsp?content=players&club=t104 |date=March 12, 2008 }}</ref>
On March 8, 2006, the Chicago Storm of the Major Indoor Soccer League selected Ambersley in the third round of the 2006 MISL College Draft. However, he did not sign with the Storm. Instead, he joined the Rochester Rhinos of the USL First Division.<ref>[http://www.rhinossoccer.com/team/player.php?id=165 Rochester Rhinos Player Profile] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214010212/http://www.rhinossoccer.com/team/player.php?id=165 |date=December 14, 2007 }}</ref> On November 28, 2007, signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Silverbacks of USL-1.<ref>{{cite web|author=Demosphere International, Inc. |url=http://usl1.uslsoccer.com/transactions/215793.html |title=Atlanta adds two for 2008 |publisher=Usl1.uslsoccer.com |date=November 28, 2007 |accessdate=August 1, 2013}}</ref> He injured his knee during the pre-season and lost the entire season. The Silverbacks withdrew from the league at the end of the season and Ambersley returned to Rochester for the 2009 season.
In March 2010, Ambersley joined AC St. Louis of the USSF Division 2 Professional League. He scored 9 goals in league play and 11 overall. 2 of those goals coming in the US Open Cup, both of which were game winners. After the demise of AC St. Louis, Ambersley signed with FC Tampa Bay of the North American Soccer League on January 4, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4141289 |title=FC Tampa Bay Signs Forward Mike Ambersley - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News |publisher=OurSports Central |date=January 4, 2011 |accessdate=August 1, 2013}}</ref> He spent the entire 2011 season with Tampa Bay and led the team in every major statistical category while being named to the NASL Best XI Team. On October 4, 2011, the club picked up his 2012 season option.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fctampabay.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1390 |title=| Tampa Bay Rowdies |publisher=Fctampabay.com |date=October 4, 2011 |accessdate=August 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011234206/http://www.fctampabay.com/index.php?id=31&newsid=1390 |archivedate=October 11, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
Ambersley signed a contract extension with Tampa Bay through the 2014 season in February 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasl.com/index.php?id=3&newsid=1758 |title=Rowdies Sign Ambersley to New Contract | North American Soccer League |publisher=Nasl.com |date= |accessdate=August 1, 2013}}</ref> On August 1, 2013, Ambersley was traded to Minnesota United in exchange for forward Etienne Barbara.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former MVP Barbara traded |url=http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-united-trades-former-league-mvp-barbara/217985111/ |publisher=startribune.com |date=August 2, 2013}}</ref>
On January 22, 2014, Ambersley signed with to new NASL franchise Indy Eleven.<ref>{{cite news |title=Indy Eleven sign former Hoosiers Ring and Ambersley, bring roster to ten players |url=http://sbisoccer.com/2014/01/hoosiers-ambersley-players |publisher=sbisoccer.com |date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>
On January 13, 2015, Ambersley became the first ever signing for new USL Pro franchise Saint Louis FC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ambersley Becomes First Signing for Saint Louis FC |url=http://saintlouisfc.com/ambersley |publisher=saintlouisfc.com |date=January 13, 2015 |access-date=January 13, 2015 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321183832/http://saintlouisfc.com/ambersley |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On January 13, 2017, Ambersley announced his retirement from professional soccer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mike Ambersley Announces Retirement |url=http://saintlouisfc.com/general/2016-17/releases/Ambersley_Announces_Retirement |publisher=saintlouisfc.com |date=January 13, 2017}}</ref>
==Honors==
===Tampa Bay Rowdies=== *'''North American Soccer League:''' ** '''Champion (1)''': 2012 ** '''NASL Best XI''': 2011
===Indiana University=== *'''NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship (1):''' 2004
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090727130750/http://www.rhinossoccer.com/player.php?id=165 Rochester Rhinos bio] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080818211833/http://www.atlantasilverbacks.com/pro/players.php?id=00000451 Atlanta Silverbacks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambersley, Mike}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:American men's soccer players Category:AC St. Louis players Category:Atlanta Silverbacks FC players Category:Chicago Fire U-23 players Category:FC Dallas players Category:Tampa Bay Rowdies players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Indiana Hoosiers men's soccer players Category:Indy Eleven players Category:Minnesota United FC (2010–2016) players Category:Saint Louis FC players Category:North American Soccer League (2011–2017) players Category:Rochester Rhinos players Category:Soccer players from St. Louis Category:St. Louis Strikers players Category:USL League Two players Category:USL Championship players Category:USL First Division players Category:USSF Division 2 Professional League players Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players Category:FC Dallas draft picks