Chris Schuler

After taking a huge leap forward in 2011, when he made 20 league appearances and 16 MLS starts, Schuler took a step back in 2012, playing in just 13 games in an injury-riddled campaign. The Chicagoland native showed well at the beginning of the season, starting RSL’s first three matches and seven of its first 12 to help the team to a fantastic 7-3-2 record. Unfortunately, the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 13^th match proved unlucky for Schuler, who suffered a bone stress response in his left foot in that game, a 1-0 win at Seattle on May 12. It’d be over three months until Schuler made his return to the first-team in RSL’s tough 0-1 loss at Houston on Sept. 6.

RSL can’t afford another injury to Schuler in 2013, as the Utah side will be counting on the 6-foot-4 defender to be a game-in, game-out starter at center back following the offseason trade of defender Jamison Olave to New York. Whether he’s paired with Nat Borchers or third-center back Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Schuler is expected to show well in 2013, with Head Coach Jason Kreis expecting the fourth-year defender to breakout and earn the attention of U.S. Men’s National Team Manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

Acquired

RSL: Selected in the third round (39^th overall) of the 2010 MLS SuperDraft on 1/14/10

MLS Career

2012: Made 13 league appearances in an injury-riddled campaign … Started nine league games, totaling 944 minutes and registering one assist in regular season play … Started RSL’s first three matches of the season and seven of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s first 12 games, helping  the team get off to a fantastic 7-3-2 start … Registered the first assist of his career in Real Salt Lake’s 3-2 win over Toronto at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 28 … Suffered a left foot bone stress response – the beginnings of a stress fracture – in the second half of RSL’s 1-0 win at Seattle on May 12 … Missed 3 ½ months with the injury, not returning to first-team action until Sept. 6, when he started and played all 90 minutes in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 0-1 loss at Houston … Appeared in four of RSL’s final six regular season contests, starting against Houston and at Chivas USA on Sept. 29 and coming on as a substitute on Oct. 6 at L.A. and on Oct. 17 at Seattle … Did not appear in Real Salt Lake’s Western Conference Semifinal series loss to Seattle Sounders FC 

2011:  Totaled 26 appearances across regular season play and all Cup competitions, adding a pair of goals during his 20 MLS regular season affairs … Also played all 540 minutes of his six MLS Reserve Division appearances … Stepped into the First XI in place of the suspended Nat Borchers on 3/01 v. CLB in Leg 2 of their CONCACAF Champions League series, helping RSL advance via a 4-1 result … Replaced the other regular center back, Jamison Olave, at halftime of the next CCL contest on 3/15, a 2-0 win over Saprissa in Leg 1 of the Semifinals … Would score first professional goal on 4/09 @ NE, his 27^th minute header off Warner’s corner kick standing as the match-winner in a 2-0 victory … After starting seven of first 18 regular season contests, start on 7/30 v. CLB marked the beginning of a stretch in which he’d receive starting nods in 13 of 14 contests (only missed 9/24 @ DC, coach’s decision), mostly in place of the injured Olave … During that stretch on 9/03 v. PHI, his 26’ tally would again be the game-winner, this time in a 2-1 result in Sandy …His only two shots on frame of the 13 shots in total both found the back of the net … In-game injury to Olave on 10/29 v. SEA led to 58 minutes of action in RSL’s thorough 3-0 defeat of Sounders FC in Leg One of their Western Conf. Semifinal Series in Sandy … Would go the full 90 minutes in RSL’s remaining two playoff contests on 11/02 @ SEA (0-2 L, wins 3-2 on agg.) and in the Western Conf. Championship on 11/06 @ LA (1-3 L).

2010: Made one appearance each in regular season, CONCACAF Champions League, and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup action, totaling 243 minutes … Started and played full 90 minutes in unofficial RSL debut on 5/15 v. Mexican U-21 Nat’l Team, going the full 90 during a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium … Official first-team debut came on 6/02 @ DC in RSL’s second U.S. Open Cup qualifying contest, when he started and played 63 minutes before giving way to Fabian Espindola in the eventual 1-2 OT loss … Entered at the half on 6/19 v. Puntarenas FC (CRC) and played the final 45 minutes in helping RSL close out a 2-0 international friendly/CCL tune-up win at Rio Tinto Stadium … Made four appearances on loan for USSF D-2 Pro League side AC St. Louis during two separate stints, notching 338 minutes while sharpening up for RSL’s congested late-season slate … Started for the Gateway City side on 7/21 @ Montreal (90 min., 0-3 L), 7/24 @ Crystal Palace Baltimore (90 min., 0-1 L), 7/28 v. Portland (68 min., 3-0 W), and 9/05 v. Miami FC (90 min., 3-1 W) … Made MLS debut in breakout fashion just four days after his last loan stint ended on 9/09 @ SEA, exhibiting stellar form across 90 minutes in a road shutout at Qwest Field in place of suspended DF Jamison Olave … Was thrown into the fire of international competition in RSL’s Champions League away fixture @ Árabe Unido on 9/22, going the full 90 minutes in a crucial 3-2 victory in Panama City … Was in line for more appearances during busy October stretch until suffering a broken bone in his right foot during a training session on 9/29 in Toronto in preparation for a likely start on 10/02 @ NE.

College

2009 (Senior): One of the most dominant defenders in school history, co-captain was named Second-Team All-Region in 2009, his third All-Region honor as a Bluejay … Helped the Bluejays lead the Missouri Valley Conference with a 0.76 goals against average in 2009, ranking among NCAA leaders in both GAA and shutout percentage - eight clean sheets in 16 matches … The center back became the 9^th player in school history to be named first-team All-MVC three times - the first since former MLS performer David Wagenfuhr (2001-03) … 2008 (Junior): Ended standout Junior season being named Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, NSCAA Second-Team All-America and NSCAA All-Midwest Region First-Team ... Also All-MVC First-Team, MVC All-Tournament Team and College Soccer News Second-Team All-America honoree ... Twice honored on the Soccer America National Team of the Week (Sept. 23, Oct. 7) and named MVC Defensive Player of the Week twice (Sept. 22, Oct. 6) ... Led the team with 1,852 minutes played, playing every minute of every match with the exception of a 12-minute break against UMKC (Sept. 13) ... Captain and anchor for record-setting defense which led the NCAA in shutout percentage (.650) and ranked second in goals against average (0.48) ... Helped team set school record with 13 shutouts ... Scored his only goal of the season against No. 22 Connecticut (Nov. 29) in the NCAA Tournament, the equalizer in the 79^th minute of the overtime win … 2007 (Sophomore): Tabbed First-Team All-MVC and Second-Team NSCAA All-Midwest Region … One of six Bluejays to start all 20 matches and played all but one minute in CU’s final 19 matches … Leader on a CU defense which posted seven shutouts and led the MVC with a 0.79 goals against average … 2006 (Freshman): Honored on the Soccer America Freshman All-America Second-Team and MVC All-Freshman Team … Named to the MVC All-Tournament Team after scoring the game-winning goal of the championship match … Each of his three goals were game-winners, two in overtime, ranking 2^nd on the team in GWG … First collegiate goal came in the 99^th minute against Georgetown (Sept. 1) to give CU a 3-2 win in his home debut … 2005 (RS-Freshman): – Redshirted in his only season at Indiana after appearing in the Hoosiers’ first exhibition match against UCLA … Tabbed a Top 100 Freshmen to Watch by College Soccer News.

Club / High School

Named a 2005 PARADE All-American for Waubonsie Valley during his senior year … Ranked as the top defender and seventh-best player in the nation by StudentSportsSoccer.com … 2004 NSCAA/adidas Youth Boys Region II All-American and earned NSCAA/adidas All-Region V honors as a senior … First-Team All-State defender as named by the Chicago Tribune … Two-time All-Conference and All-Area First-Team honoree … Played high school soccer for 1978 Hermann Trophy winner Angelo DiBernardo … Played club soccer for the Chicago Magic (Aurora, IL), leading the team to State Cup Championships from 2001-04 and three regional championships … Served as four-year captain for the Magic, the same club which produced RSL GM Garth Lagerwey and MF Ned Grabavoy … Member of the Illinois and Region II Olympic Development Program … Participated  in two events with the national ODP team in summer 2005 ... Tabbed the MVP at the US Youth Soccer National Championships in July 2006.

Personal

The son of Chris and Christina Schuler, Chris was born Sept. 6, 1987, in St. Louis, Mo. … Has one younger sister, Christen (23), who played soccer at Northern Illinois … Management information systems major while at Creighton.

REGULAR SEASON GAME HIGHS

Goals                           1 – 2 times, last: Sept. 3, 2011, RSL vs. PHI

Assists                         0

Shots on Goal              1 – 2 times, last: Sept. 3, 2011, RSL vs. PHI

Shots                           4 – Sept. 3, 2011, RSL vs. PHI

Fouls Committed         3 – Oct. 6, 2011, RSL @ VAN

Fouls Suffered            3 – Oct. 1, 2011, RSL @ LA