U.S. U17 men highlight Development Showcase

U.S. U17 men highlight Development Showcase
December 4, 2009

It’s a soccer bonanza, and TopDrawerSoccer.com is bringing you a front row seat.

Beginning today, the Development Academy Winter Showcase sweeps through the Reach 11 Sports Club in Phoenix until Dec. 8.

All 154 teams representing 77 Academy clubs will play 234 games. But that isn’t all - highlighting the soccer blowout will be a host of elite teams and special competitions at all four age groups.

Nike Friendlies Open: The new cycle of U.S. U17 players will go into action in an international round-robin featuring Portugal, Brazil and the Netherlands. The U.S. squad will play three matches beginning with Portugal today at 9 p.m. EST.

Academy Select Teams: Eight All-Star squads, including one 91-92 squad, four 93 birth year squads and three 94s, will take part in the showcase and play teams from the academy throughout the proceedings.

Per usual we’ll be bringing you exclusive coverage of all the happenings, with stories, photos and video. We may even throw in some surprise guests for you, so stay tuned, and enjoy!

U.S. U17 Roster By Position       

GOALKEEPERS (2): Kendall McIntosh (Mustang Academy; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Fernando Pina (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas)

DEFENDERS (7): Ive Burnett (Central Jackson; Brandon, Miss.), Andrew Chang (Sockers FC; Highland Park, Ill.), Jerome Cristobal (Derby County Wolves; Sterling Heights, Mich.), Marc Pelosi (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Tarik Salkicic (Strictly Soccer; Pinellas Park, Fla.), Nathan Smith (Cal Odyssey; Clovis, Calif.), Andrew Souders (Columbus Crew Academy; Amherst, Ohio)   

MIDFIELDERS (8): Atsou Ayah (Fusion FC Tampa; Tampa, Fla.), Tarek Beckles (BW Gottschee; Brooklyn, N.Y.), Holden Fender (North Atlanta SA; Marietta, Ga.), Irvin Gijon (Players Club; Las Vegas, Nev.), Eric Gonzalez (Los Angeles Galaxy; Corona, Calif.), Nicholas Melo (Florida Rush; Kissimmee, Fla.), Oscar Ortega (Aztecs Premier; San Ysidro, Calif.), Sebastian Velasquez (Arsenal FC; Los Angeles, Calif.)

FORWARDS (5): Mikhail Doholis (Eastside United; Vancouver, Wash.), Kellen Gulley (MS Chicago Fire Juniors; Clinton, Miss.), Alfred Koroma (Solar Red; Southlake, Texas); Andrew Oliver (Westside United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Mario Rodriguez (Central Aztecs; North Hollywood, Calif.) 

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