Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Richie Williams is giving a large number of players a look ahead of two youth international tournaments in July and August.
Williams has called in 38 players to a training camp from July 5-12 at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, Calif., including four players based abroad; Monterrey FC pair Joe Gallardo and Jonathan Gonzalez, Fiorentina forward Josh Perez, and a first call-up for dual-national (Netherlands) Kai Koreniuk of Vitesse Arnhem.
The training camp roster includes 22 players who are currently in U.S. Soccer Residency including Christian and Will Pulisic, Alexix Valela, Pierre Da Silva, and Alejandro Zendejas. The majority of the roster is in the 1998 class but six players were born in 1999, including U-17 regular Edwin Lara.
Williams and his staff will use the training camp to determine their squads for the the 2014 Nordic Open Cup Tournament in Kolding, Denmark, which runs from July 24-Aug. 3, and a concurrent tournament, the third annual Copa Do Mexico in Mexico City from July 30-Aug. 11.
Here’s a look at the 38-man training camp squad:
U-17 MNT TRAINING CAMP SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS (3): Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy Academy; Westminster, Calif.), William Pulisic (Richmond Strikers; Mechanicsville, Va.), Kevin Silva (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (12): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls Academy; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Hugo Arellano (Chivas USA Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Nikkye De Point (Revolution Empire; Rochester, N.Y.), Tanner Dieterich (TN Soccer Club; Nashville, Tenn.), McKay Eves (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Edwin Lara (De Anza Force; San Leandro, Calif.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), AJ Palazzolo (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallon, Mo.), Miles Stray (Real Salt Lake Academy; Point Reyes, Calif.), Mattias Tomasino (Kendall; Miami, Fla.), Alexis Velela (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (12): George Braima (Crew Soccer Academy; Columbus, Ohio), Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Francisco Contreras (Bethesda-Olney; Fredrick, Md.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey FC; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Kyle Gurrieri (NJSA 04; Totowa, N.J.), Alejandro Lopez (Santa Cruz Breakers; Watsonville, Calif.), Thomas McCabe (PDA; South Orange, N.J.), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas Academy; Little Elm, Texas), Logan Panchot (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics; Hershey, Pa.), Brian Zelaya (De Anza Force; San Mateo, Calif.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas Academy; El Paso, Texas)
FORWARDS (11): Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks Academy – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Ronaldo Escudero (Pateadores; Placentia, Calif.), McKinze Gaines (Lonestar SC; Austin, Texas), Joe Gallardo (Monterrey FC; San Diego, Calif.), Keegan Kelly (Baltimore Celtic; Baltimore), Kai Koreniuk (Vitesse; Ormond Beach, Fla.), Eric Matzelevich (Bethesda-Olney; Washington, D.C.), Josh Perez (ACF Fiorentina; La Habra, Calif.), Elijah Rice (Chicago Magic PSG; Highland Park, Ill.), Devin Vega (San Antonio Scorpions; San Antonio, Texas)
———
What do you think of this roster? Do you believe the U.S. can challenge at these competitions? Which players do you expect to be standouts? Excited to see Koreniuk in a U.S. jersey?
Share your thoughts below.