(November 29, 2012) - U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team coach Richie Williams comments on the team’s defenders and goalkeepers for the 2012 Nike International Friendlies.

PAUL CHRISTENSEN, Goalkeeper
Height: 6-1
Weight: 165
Birthdate: April 15, 1996
Hometown: Woodinville, Wash.

2012 Highlights: The Washington native has been a consistent presence in the goalkeeping rotation for the U-17 MNT since the 2011 Fall Semester. Christensen started two of the three matches (only missing the second match against Turkey) during the 2011 Nike International Friendlies and has maintained his presence in the rotation during 2012, splitting time in goal with Evan Louro and Jeff Caldwell. Christensen has backstopped the U-17s during a handful of shutouts this year, including twice against the United Arab Emirates (April 3 and Sept. 30). He and Louro also shared a clean sheet against the Houston Dynamo Academy on May 10.

Previous Years: Christensen is a member of the Seattle Sounders FC Academy U-15/16 team and commands the net when he’s not with the U-17 Men’s National Team. This year’s Nike International Friendlies will be the goalkeeper’s second time in the competition. 
 

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team defeated Universidad Catolica of Chile 4-3 on penalty kicks to advance to the championship final at the Copa Saprissa Internacional tournament.

The U.S. opened the scoring in the 42^nd minute when Chris Lema played a ball in behind the Catolica defense for Wesley Wade, who took a touch and beat the goalkeeper inside the penalty box.

Andres Diaz tied the score at 1-1 in the 60^th minute for Catolica, eventually sending the semifinal match to spot kicks to decide a winner, where the U.S. prevailed 4-3.

             - U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Game Report -

Match: USA U-17 MNT vs. U. de Catolica (Chile)
Competition: Copa Saprissa Internacional
Location: Saprissa, Costa Rica
Date: June 29, 2012
Weather: 60 degrees

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F       PKs
USA                          0 1 1       4
Catolica                    0 1 1       3

USA – Wesley Wade (Chris Lema)       42^nd minute
UdC – Andres Diaz                            60

Lineups:
USA: 1-Paul Christensen, 3-John Requejo Jr., 14-Conor Donovan, 25-Jordan Cano, 24-Gonzalo Rolon, 16-Aaron Meyer (18-Rolando Munoz, 55), 23-Elijah Martin (2-Shaq Moore, 47), 20-Chris Lema (10-Junior Flores, 61), 17-Alan Winn (9-Ahinga Selemani, 58), 19-Wesley Wade, 21-Bradford Jamieson (11-Rubio Rubin, 47)
Subs not used:-12-Evan Louro, 4-Tyler Turner
Head Coach: Richie Williams

UdC: 1-Sergio Lemus, 4-Guillermo Maripan, 3-Vicente Stariroff, 2-Guillermo Soto, 15-Ivo Cerda, 6-Andres Diaz, 8-Fabian Mamzamo, 11-Bernardo Correa, 9-Rafael Olave (18-Hamser Rivera, 47), 7-Carlos Rodriguez (17-Felipe Clavijo, 47)
Subs not used:12-Frayecisco Isarrido, 13-Gustavo Matus, 14-Makimiliano Viviami, 16-Bastian Barra, 10-Benjamin Mardorlas
Head Coach: Luis Hernan Carvallo

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Paul Christensen         (Caution)                     54^th minute
USA – Alan Winn                    (Caution)                     58
UdC – Andres Diaz                 (Caution)                     60

 

(2011) - The roster for the fall semester of U.S. Soccer’s Under-17 Men’s National Team Residency Program has been finalized with 32 players training in Bradenton, Fla., under head coach Wilmer Cabrera.

The group of players, all born in 1996, is at the beginning of a two-year cycle that will culminate with the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship with the goal of qualifying for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. is the only nation to have qualified for all 14 previous editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup and is coming off a Round of 16 appearance in the 2011 event in Mexico.

The new group brings a range of experience with the U.S. U-15 Boys’ National Team and the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Of the 32 players joining the Residency Program, 25 were part of the most recent U-15 BNT camp in July at The Home Depot Center, and 10 traveled with the team to Zagreb, Croatia, in May. DeAndre Robinson, Corey Baird, Wesley Wade and Tyler Turner all scored for the United States in a 4-1 win against Croatia on May 10.

There are 24 players representing Development Academy clubs, including Vernon Bailey, who was one of the youngest players at 2011 Finals Week, where he helped the Dallas Texans to a seventh place finish in the U-15/16 age group before joining FC Dallas this year. There are an astounding seven players on the roster representing the New York Red Bulls Academy and two each from Academy clubs Chivas USA, Concorde Fire, New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes.

NC Alliance and Westside Metros are the only other clubs with two representatives on Cabrera’s roster.

The U.S. players live on campus at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., and train in the morning under the guidance of Cabrera and assistant coaches Paul Grafer and Erik Imler. In the afternoon, the players attend classes at St. Stephens Episcopal School.

While in the full-time residency program, the U.S. team not only trains daily under Cabrera, but also has access to the IMG Academies facilities. The team regularly uses the state-of-the-art strength-training facilities, as well as brand new dormitories and meal rooms.

Beginning in 1999, the Residency Program has given players an opportunity to grow and move up the ladder in the world of soccer and become professionals in Major League Soccer, some of the biggest clubs in Europe and even make an impact on the full U.S. Men’s National Team. The program in Bradenton provides players with an environment where they can prosper as individual players and come together as a team ahead of regional and world competition.

Since its inception, more than 300 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 100 of those players have moved on to Major League Soccer, or the professional leagues in Europe. Twenty-four players have also registered at least one cap with the full MNT: Freddy Adu, Gale Agbossoumonde, Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, Bobby Convey, Landon Donovan, Eddie Gaven, Omar Gonzalez, Eddie Johnson, Eric Lichaj, Justin Mapp, Chad Marshall, Dax McCarty, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce, Santino Quaranta, Robbie Rogers, Brek Shea, Jonathan Spector, Danny Szetela and Anthony Wallace.

U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Roster by Position 
GOALKEEPERS (4): Paul Christensen (Seattle Sounders FC; Woodinville, Wash.), Alek Gogic (New York Red Bulls; Fort Lee, N.J.) Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls; South River, N.J.), Nedin Tucakovic (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (9): Vernon Bailey (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Conor Donovan (NC Alliance; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Elijah Martin (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Matt Nance (Vardar SC Freiburg; Washington, Mich.), Kevin Politz (New York Red Bulls; Morganville, N.J.), John Requejo (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.), Bruno Scodari (Olney Boys and Girls Club; Silver Springs, Md.), Brandon Tetro (New York Red Bulls; Colts Neck, N.J.), Thomas Ziemer (Atletico Santa Rosa; Glen Allen, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Adonis Amaya (Chivas USA; Westminster, Calif.), Jorge Calix (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.), Steven Echevarria (New York Red Bulls; Slate Hill, N.Y.), Angel Heredia (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Guyllian Kabala (New England Revolution; Manchester, N.H.), Christopher Lema (New York Red Bulls; Ridgefield, N.J.), Declan McCabe (New England Revolution; Weston, Mass.), Herber Mejia-Flores (McLean Youth Soccer; Manassas Park, Va.), Shaquell Moore (Cobb FC; Powder Springs Ga.), Dean Rutherford (NC Alliance; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Tyler Turner (South Central Premier; West Haven, Conn.)

FORWARDS (8): Corey Baird (San Diego Surf; Escondido, Calif.), Bradford Jamieson (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Danya Kafai (Juventus Sports Club; Redwood City, Calif.), DeAndre Robinson (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.), Rubio Rubin (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.), Alejandro Segovia (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.), Wesley Wade (New York Red Bulls; South Orange, N.J.), Dembakwi Yomba (Concorde Fire Academy; Lithonia, Ga.)

National Team Staff 
Head Coach: Wilmer Cabrera (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) 
Assistant Coach: Paul Grafer (Sarasota, Fla.) 
Assistant Coach: Erik Imler (Bradenton, Fla.) 
Program Manager: Tim Ryder (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) 
Program Coordinator: Sam Pugsley (Bradenton, Fla.) 
Equipment Coordinator: Jason Peters (St. Petersburg, Fla.) 
Athletic Trainer: James Spinale (Sarasota, Fla.) 
Athletic Trainer: Rory Blevins (Bradenton, Fla.)

(2009) - WPFC ’97 Black Goalee Paul Christensen was recently added to 20 player roster selected by head coach Manny Schellscheidt to play for the U-14 NDP team that is going to be competing in Guadalajara, Mexico on January 17-24, 2010 and represent the first group of ‘96s to enter the U.S. youth national team system. Paul is the second player for Washington Premier F.C. student-athlete to be selected to play for the U-14 NDP, WPFC ’96 Black defender Fischer Gallinger was selected earlier this month.