Eric Puls
Encyclopedia
Eric Puls is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder
who played two seasons in the German third division and nine in the USISL. He was the head coach of the Reading Rage
in 2001 and 2002.
where he was a member of the 1988 Christian Brothers College High School
Missouri State championship soccer team. That year, he was also selected as an All State soccer player. He then attended Syracuse University
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992. In addition to his school teams, Puls also played club soccer with the Busch Soccer Club until his graduation from High School. He then played for the Scott Gallagher clup.
where he played from 1992 to 1994. In 1995, he returned to St. Louis and signed with the St. Louis Knights
in the USISL. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
selected Puls in the 12th round (112th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. On March 25, 1996, the Rapids released Puls during a pre-season roster reduction. He then moved to the Reading Rage
where he played from 1996 to 2003. He was 1999, 2000 and 2003 All League.
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who played two seasons in the German third division and nine in the USISL. He was the head coach of the Reading Rage
Reading Rage
Reading United A.C. is an American soccer team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference....
in 2001 and 2002.
Youth
Puls grew up in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
where he was a member of the 1988 Christian Brothers College High School
Christian Brothers College High School
Christian Brothers College High School , is a Lasallian Catholic college preparatory school for young men in St. Louis, Missouri. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Louis and is owned and operated by the De La Salle Christian Brothers Midwest District.-Early years :The school...
Missouri State championship soccer team. That year, he was also selected as an All State soccer player. He then attended Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, playing on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992. In addition to his school teams, Puls also played club soccer with the Busch Soccer Club until his graduation from High School. He then played for the Scott Gallagher clup.
Professional
Following college, Puls moved to Germany to pursue a professional career. He signed with SV Darmstadt 98 in the second Bundesliga before moving to Rot-Weiß Waldorf of the RegionalligaRegionalliga
Regionalliga is a designation in Germany for sports leagues, which are led by one or more regional federations. Regionalligen often fall below the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga of a given sport...
where he played from 1992 to 1994. In 1995, he returned to St. Louis and signed with the St. Louis Knights
St. Louis Knights
The St. Louis Knights were an American soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. The team began in the USISL and moved to the USISL Pro League in 1995. The team was coached both seasons by Jim Bokern.-Year-by-year:...
in the USISL. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Puls in the 12th round (112th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. On March 25, 1996, the Rapids released Puls during a pre-season roster reduction. He then moved to the Reading Rage
Reading Rage
Reading United A.C. is an American soccer team based in Reading, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid-Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference....
where he played from 1996 to 2003. He was 1999, 2000 and 2003 All League.