142
« on: January 15, 2009, 10:00:16 AM »
Rongen Names 19 Players to Travel to Trinidad & Tobago as Preparation for CONCACAF Championship
CHICAGO (Jan. 12, 2009) – U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen has named 19 players who will travel to Trinidad & Tobago from Jan. 18-24 as part of preparation for the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship in March.
The CONCACAF U-20 Championship will be held in Macoya, Trinidad and Bacolet, Tobago from March 6-15. Rongen’s squad will learn their schedule and opponents for the eight-team event in a draw held on Thursday, Jan. 15 at CONCACAF headquarters in New York City. The U.S. will acclimate to both islands while staying and training in facilities in and around both host cities during their upcoming trip.
A combination of professional, collegiate and youth players will travel to Trinidad on Jan. 18 and scrimmage the T&T Under-17 MNT before moving on to the island of Tobago. The team will continue training in Tobago through Jan. 24.
University of Maryland forward Casey Townsend is fresh off of leading his team to the national championship in 2008, while defender Connor Lade helped St. John’s reach the College Cup Final Four. Perennial powerhouse Indiana University sends a pair of underclassmen to T&T in Richard Balchan and Will Bruin. UNLV’s Danny Cruz will be joining the squad just days after learning his professional fate in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft, which will be held on Jan. 15.
Defenders Kyle Davies and Jared Jeffrey are the only European-based players that will be traveling to the Caribbean for the trip. FC Dallas’ pair of consistent call-ups, Brek Shea and Anthony Wallace, round out the professional contingent.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Birthdate Hometown Club
Balchan, Richard M 6'0" 165 01/18/89 Carmel, Ind. Indiana University
Bruin, Will F 6'1" 195 10/24/89 St. Louis, Mo. Indiana University
Cascio, Tony M 6'0" 160 03/28/90 Gilbert, Ariz. University of Connecticut
Cruz, Danny M 5'8" 180 01/03/90 Glendale, Ariz. UNLV
Davies, Kyle D 5'10" 160 04/11/89 Danville, Calif. Southampton FC (England)
Duka, Dilly M 5'9" 160 09/15/89 Montville, N.J. Rutgers University
Garcia, Felix F 6'1" 160 07/30/90 Laredo, Texas Laredo Heat (PDL)
Jeffrey, Jared M 5'10" 160 06/14/90 Richardson, Texas Club Brugge (Belgium)
Johnson, Sean GK 6'4" 220 05/31/89 Lilburn, Ga. University of Central Florida
Lade, Connor D 5'5" 135 11/16/89 Convent Station, N.J. St. John's University
Maund, Aaron M 6'2" 175 09/19/90 Dorchester, Mass. University of Notre Dame
Opare, Kofi D 6'1" 185 10/12/90 Niagara Falls, Ontario St. Catharine's Concord
Perk, Brian GK 5'11" 180 07/21/89 Rancho Sta. Margarita, Calif. UCLA
Shea, Brek D 6'3" 180 02/28/90 College Station, Texas FC Dallas (MLS)
Taylor, Chris D 6'1" 160 05/12/89 Edmond, Okla. University of Tulsa
Taylor, Tony F 6'0" 175 07/12/89 Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville University
Townsend, Casey F 5'11" 160 07/07/89 Traverse City, Mich. University of Maryland
Wallace, Anthony D 5'11" 165 01/26/89 St. Petersburg, Fla. FC Dallas (MLS)
Watson, Marcus D 6'0" 160 09/16/89 Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. LA Galaxy Academy
U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Johnson (Lilburn, Ga.; University of Central Florida), Brian Perk (Rancho Santa Margarita; UCLA)
DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davis (Danville, Calif.; Southampton FC), Connor Lade (Convent Station, N.J.; St. John’s University), Kofi Opare (Niagara Falls, Ontario; St. Catharine’s Concord), Chris Taylor (Edmond, Okla.; University of Tulsa), Anthony Wallace (St. Petersburg, Fla.; FC Dallas), Marcus Watson (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Los Angeles Galaxy Academy)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Richard Balchan (Carmel, Ind.; Indiana University), Tony Cascio (Gilbert, Ariz.; University of Connecticut), Danny Cruz (Glendale, Ariz.; UNLV), Dilly Duka (Montville, N.J.; Rutgers University), Jared Jeffrey (Richardson, Texas; Club Brugge), Aaron Maund (Dorchester, Mass.; Notre Dame), Brek Shea (College Station, Texas; FC Dallas)
FORWARDS (4): Will Bruin (Carmel, Ind.; Indiana University), Felix Garcia (Laredo, Texas; Laredo Heat), Tony Taylor (Jacksonville, Fla.; Jacksonville University), Casey Townsend (Traverse City, Mich.; University of Maryland)
U.S. Under-20 MNT Staff
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen Sewalls Point, Fla.
Assistant Coach: Dave Dir Dallas, Texas
Goalkeeper Coach: Tim Mulqueen Lakewood Ranch, Calif.
Team Coordinator: Jon Fleishman Redondo Beach, Calif.
Equipment Coordinator: Beto Cuevas Redondo Beach, Calif.
Athletic Trainer: John Dunham Lawrenceville, Ga.
Team Doctor: Jon Englund Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Security Officer: Butch Hummel St. Cloud, Fla.