Ruben Michael Mendoza was an American soccer forward who was a dominant player in the St. Louis leagues during the 1950s and 1960s. He earned four caps with the U.S. national team and was a member of the 1952, 1956 and 1960 U.S. Olympic teams.
Mendoza at the 1956 Summer Olympics
Mendoza accepts the Champions trophy as captain of the Atlante' Juniors team, Durango, Mexico, c. 1946
Mendoza (#10) watching his bicycle shot go into the net
Mendoza (#10) heading ball playing for the St. Louis Kutis in the 1950s
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the "St. Louis Raiders", the club was known as "Paul Schulte" during the 1948–49 season, "McMahon's" during the 1949–50 season and "Zenthoefer's" in the 1950–51 season. In 1953, the team was renamed "St. Louis Kutis". The club gained its greatest prominence in the 1950s when it dominated both St. Louis and national soccer competitions. In 1958, the United States Soccer Federation used Kutis, with a few guest players, as the U.S. national team in two World Cup qualifying matches.
St. Louis Kutis team c. 1954.
Ruben Mendoza (#10) heading the ball during a Kutis match