(April 12, 2010) - The U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team will come together for a training camp from April 25-May 2 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Head coach Mike Matkovich has named 24 players who will train twice daily and compete against local club teams during the week. The team will also attend the Los Angeles Galaxy match against the Philadelphia Union on May 1.

Matkovich’s roster includes 17 players currently playing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy plus another player, Kyle Emerson, who has moved on from Texas SC DTH to Wake Forest. The remaining five players – Dustin Corea, Andrew Craven, Luis Gil, Stefan Jerome and Eriq Zavaleta – were all part of the U.S. Soccer U-17 Men’s National Team Residency Program in 2009. Gil, who signed with Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer before the 2010 season, is the lone professional player on the roster.

Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Keith Cardona (NY Red Bulls Academy; Glen Rock N.J.), Jonathan Kempin (Kansas City Wizards; Leawood, Kans.)

DEFENDERS (8): Michael Ambrose (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Anthony Carerras (BW Gottschee; Valley Stream, N.Y.), Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; Baltimore, Md.), Andrew Jean-Baptiste (Albertson SC; Brentwood, N.Y.), Jordan McCrary (Concorde Fire; Marietta, Ga.), Boyd Okwuonu (FC Dallas Juniors; Edmund, Okla.), Scott Thomsen (PDA; Brick, N.J.), Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride; Westfield, Ind.)

MIDFIELDERS (10): Dustin Corea (Unattached; Portland, Ore.), Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Sean Davis (NY Red Bulls Academy; Holmdel, N.J.), Kyle Emerson (Wake Forest; Cypress, Texas), Daniel Garcia (FC Dallas Juniors; Dallas, Texas), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake; Garden Grove, Calif.), Miguel Lopez (Lonestar Aztex Academy; Alton, Texas), Daniel Metzger (PDA; Holmdel, N.J.), Emilio Orozco (Real SoCal; Oxnard, Calif.), Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier FC; Battleground, Wash.)

FORWARDS (4): Villyan Bijev (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal; Fontana, Calif.), Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC; Davie, Fla.), Sean Okoli (Washington Premier FC; Federal Way, Wash.)
The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team drew Brazil during the Copa Chivas tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.

(January 23, 2010) - GUADALAJARA, Mexico -- The U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team continued play at the Copa Chivas tournament in Guadalajara with a 1-1 draw against Brazil.

After a scoreless first half, Brazil strung quick passes together just moments after the second half opening whistle and got behind the U.S. defense. Moving quickly down the left flank, Adrian sped into the corner and slotted the ball back for Lucas. Lucas hit a first-time shot past Zac MacMath to give the South Americans a lead.

Their advantage would only last seven minutes, however, as the U.S. struck back. A long punt from MacMath, who is sharing time in Guadalajara with Earl Edwards, bounced once and was over the Brazilian defense. Juan Agudelo was already sprinting past his defenders and ran onto the ball to control it. He calmly played it past the goalkeeper to level the score.

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report 

Participants: USA U-20 MNT vs. Brazil 
Competition: Copa Chivas 2010 
Location: Guadalajara, Mexico 
Date: Jan. 23, 2010 
Weather: Hot & Sunny 

Scoring Summary: 
             1   2     Final 
USA       0   1    1 
BRA       0   1    1 

Brazil - Lucas (Adrian)                      48th minute 
USA - Juan Agudelo (Zac MacMath)   55

Lineups: 
USA: 18-Zac MacMath; 14-Bryan Gallego, 6-Emilio Orozco, 5-Perry Kitchen, 3-Moises Hernandez; 17-Juan Agudelo, 10-Marlon Duran (WPFC Alumnus 21-Nick Palodichuk, 57), 12-Amobi Okugo, 8-Carlos Martinez(19-Fuad Ibrahim, 58), 15-Ryan Dodson (13-Luis Gil, 23), 16-Victor Chavez (20-Jack McInerney, 63) 
Subs Not Used: 24-Earl Edwards, 25-Michael Ambrose, 4-Zach Herold, 7-Stefan Jerome, 22-Eriq Zavaleta 
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen 

Brazil: 1-Guido, 2-Lucas, 3-Luis Gustavo, 4-Glenio, 5-Jonatas, 6-Victor, 7-Marlon Bico, 8-Adrian, 9-Lucas Piazon, 10-Mateus(11-Lucas Lopez, 62), 15-Rodrigo(18-Pedro, 66) 
Subs Not Used: 12-Jairo, 13-Oliveira, 14-Emerson, 16-Hugo 
Head Coach: Antonio Nizzo 

Statistical Summary: 
USA / Brazil 
Shots 5 / 7 
Saves 2 / 1 
Fouls 10 / 12 
Corner Kicks 2 / 2 
Offside 2 / 0 


Misconduct Summary: 
USA - Gallego (caution)     27th minute 
USA - Agudelo (caution)    42 
Brazil - Luis (caution)        59 
Brazil - Victor (caution)      59 
USA - Ibrahim (caution)     70 
 

(Oct. 19, 2009) – U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Wilmer Cabrera has announced the final 21 players who will represent the United States in the 2009 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. A combination of 17 players born in 1992 and four born in 1993 will travel to Nigeria on Tuesday, Oct. 20, arriving five days before the team’s first match.

The U.S. will open Group E play in Kano, Nigeria against Spain on Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET). The team will stay at Sani Abacha Stadium to play Malawi on Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. (11 a.m. ET) before moving to Ijebu-Ode and Gateway International Stadium to finish the first round against United Arab Emirates on Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. (10 a.m. ET). All three of the American’s group games will be televised live on ESPNU and Galavision. "We have been working for two years to find the right players, first for qualifying and now for the World Cup," said Cabrera. "We have made some changes over the years to overcome different challenges, but we feel that we picked the best 21 players who are ready to represent their country for this World Cup."

Following a successful qualifying campaign in Tijuana, Mexico, in March, the U.S. has traveled to England, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Spain in 2009, facing the likes of Argentina, Uruguay, Gambia, Chile, Spain and Colombia. Cabrera’s side won the Copa Macae tournament in Brazil in July, and a trip to England concluded on Oct. 1 as Cabrera and his staff had one final chance to evaluate players before the roster was finalized. 

The U.S. squad has scored 33 goals in 2009 in 16 games against international opponents. Included in that total are 12 goals scored in three games during the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in April. The potent attack is led by Jack McInerney, who leads the team with nine international goals in 11 appearances this year, including five in three games at the regional championship. Juan Agudelo, Andrew Craven and Stefan Jerome were also key parts of the offensive juggernaut during qualifying.  

Jerome and newcomer to U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program Victor Chavez both netted twice in the team’s most recent international game, a 5-0 win against fellow World Cup finalists Gambia in London. Chavez and Dominick Sarle both earned their place on the team late in the cycle, with both players traveling on the team’s most recent training camps to Miami and England.  

Of the players who will travel to Nigeria, only one, William Packwood, is not based full time in U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program. Packwood, who trains full time with English side Birmingham City, earned his place in an experienced midfield that includes three players in Marlon Duran, Carlos Martinez and Jared Watts, who have been part of the Residency Program since the Fall 2007 semester. Fellow midfielders Nicholas Palodichuk, Luis Gil and Alex Shinsky came to Bradenton in the Spring of 2008 and have all netted key goals for the U.S. in recent games.

Defensively, Eriq Zavaleta and Perry Kitchen have both played in at least 10 international games this year as central defenders while Tyler Polak, Zachary Herold and Boyd Okwuonu will likely be looking to play as outside backs. Okwuonu is one of only four players on the roster born in 1993, along with Gil, Shinsky and Packwood.

Behind that defensive unit, which has earned seven shutouts in 16 international games this year, will be a solid trio of goalkeepers in Earl Edwards, Spencer Richey and a newcomer to Residency, Keith Cardona. Edwards has been the team’s top choice goalkeeper in his two years with the Residency Program, but has been aided by the progress of Richey, who picked up shutouts in qualifying and against Gambia in September. Cardona, who  has joined the team just this fall, is a member of the New York Red Bulls Development Academy program. In all, a total of nine players are members of U.S. Soccer Development Academy clubs.

The U.S. qualified for Nigeria by winning Group A at the 2009 CONCACAF U-17 Championship in Tijuana, Mexico, in April. The U.S. won three straight games in Tijuana to earn a place in the semifinals, but with the four regional representatives determined by group play of that event, the semifinals and final of the tournament were cancelled due to concerns over the H1N1 virus.

The U.S. is the only country to have qualified for all 12 FIFA Under-17 World Championships. In 2007, the American squad advanced to the knock out phase for the third straight time before falling to Germany in the Round of 16. The team’s best finish came in 1999, when Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley and Oguchi Onyewu led the Americans to the semifinals.

U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Roster by Postion
GOALKEEPERS (3): Keith Cardona (NY Red Bulls Academy; Glen Rock, N.J.), Earl Edwards (Nomads SC; San Diego, Calif.), Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier; Seattle, Wash.)

DEFENDERS (6): Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC, Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic; Indianapolis, Ind.), Boyd Okwuonu (Celtic Green; Edmond, Okla.), Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy; Lincoln, Neb.), Jared Watts (North Meck SC; Statesville, N.C.), Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride; Westfield, Ind.)

MIDFIELDERS (6):  Marlon Duran (Latino Americana; Ducanville, Texas), Luis Gil (Pateadores; Garden Grove, Calif.), Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.; San Pedro, Calif), William Packwood (Birmingham City, Concord, Mass.), Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier; Battleground, Wash.), Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC; York, Pa.)

FORWARDS (6): Juan Agudelo (NY Red Bulls Academy; Barnegat, N.J.), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal; Fontana, Calif), Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC; Davie, Fla.), Jack McInerney (Cobb SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Dominick Sarle (BW Gottschee; Huntington, N.Y.)

(June 10, 2009) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team will come together for its first training camp of the summer from June 14-21 in Somerset, N.J. Head coach Wilmer Cabrera has called in 40 players who will train at PDA as the team continues preparation for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The training camp roster includes 14 players who have not been part of U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program. From that group, 11 participated on Development Academy Select Teams at the recent Development Academy Spring Showcase in Sarasota, Fla. Two teams of 18 players chosen by the U-17 coaching staff and Academy technical advisors competed against a split U-17 MNT over two days.

The new players will mix in with 26 veterans of the Residency Program, including 18 players who were part of the U.S. U-17 team that successfully qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup with a strong showing at the CONCACAF U-17 Championship in April. The U.S. won all three games in Tijuana, Mexico, to seal a berth in the world championship.

Each player in the training camp was born in 1992 or 1993 as Cabrera and his staff evaluate a large player pool geared toward the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is slated for Nigeria from Oct. 24-Nov.15.


Roster By Position
GOALKEEPERS (4): Keith Cardona (NY Red Bulls Acaemy; Glen Rock, N.J.), Earl Edwards (La Jolla Nomads; San Diego, Calif.), Spencer Richey (Crossfire Premier; Seattle, Wash.), Alexander Tambakis (Panathinaikos FC; Athens, Greece)

DEFENDERS (14): Michael Ambrose (Texas Fire; El Paso, Texas), Marquez Fernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; Baltimore, Md.), Joe Garcia (Lonestar Aztex Academy; Buda, Texas), Ricardo Hernandez (Arsenal FC; Fontana, Calif.), Zachary Herold (West Pines United FC, Port St. Lucie, Fla.), Perry Kitchen (Chicago Magic; Indianapolis, Ind.), Jordan McCrary (Concorde Fire; Marietta, Ga.), Torey McGaw (Mustang SC; Alamo, Calif.), Boyd Okwuonu (Celtic Green; Edmond, Okla.), Emilio Orozco (Rampage FC; Oxnard, Calif.), Tyler Polak (Capital Soccer Academy; Lincoln, Neb.), Momudu Sluwar (FC DELCO; Philadelphia, Pa.), Jared Watts (North Meck Storm; Statesville, N.C.), Eriq Zavaleta (FC Pride; Westfield, Ind.)

MIDFIELDERS (13): AJ Corrado (Carmel United SC; Zionsville, Ind.), Sean Davis (Match Fit Chelsea; Holmdel, N.J.), Marlon Duran (Latino Americana; Ducanville, Texas), Luis Gil (Pateadores; Garden Grove, Calif.), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; South San Francisco, Calif.), George Malki (SC Delsol Extreme; Scottsdale, Ariz.), Carlos Martinez (Wilmington Jr.; San Pedro, Calif), Nick Palodichuk (Washington Premier; Battleground, Wash.), Trey Saunders (Virgina Rush AS Monaco; Virginia Beach, Va.), Joseph Schmid (FC DELCO; Kingston, Pa.), Alex Shinsky (Super Nova FC; York, Pa.), Erik Stephenson (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif), Riley Wolfe (LA Galaxy Academy; Manhattan Beach, Calif.)

FORWARDS (9): Juan Agudelo (NY Red Bulls Academy; Barnegat, N.J.), Victor Chavez (Real So Cal; Fontana, Calif), Dustin Corea (East Side United FC; Milwaukee, Ore.), Andrew Craven (First Coast Kickers; St. Simons Island, Ga.), Zachary Foxhoven (Colorado Rush AS Monaco; Littleton, Colo.), Stefan Jerome (West Pines United FC; Davie, Fla.), Jack McInerney (Cobb SC; Alpharetta, Ga.), Dominick Sarle (BW Gotschee; Huntington, N.Y.), Alec Sundly (Irvine Strikers; Capistrano Beach, Calif.)