U.S. U20 MNT head to NC for training camp

by U.S. Soccer

July 14, 2018

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team will gather for a training camp from July 15-22 in Raleigh, N.C. for the program’s fourth activity this cycle that began with the first-ever U.S. Soccer Men’s YNT Summit in January. U-20 MNT head coach Tab Ramos has called 20 players to the camp.

“I am really looking forward to this camp and to the addition of some new players,” Ramos said. “It is important, at this time, to widen our player pool and provide new opportunities so that we can begin making decisions about who will be part of our core group in U-20 World Cup Qualifying in November”

With the recent news that the Concacaf Under-20 Championship will be played at IMG Academy from Nov. 1-21. Ramos and the Youth National Team coaching staff are continuing to adjust to the shortened cycle calendar. The tournament, which will qualify four nations for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, will feature all 34 Concacaf U-20 member association for the first time in the history of the competition.

Eight players are being called up to the U-20 MNT for the first time: goalkeepers Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC) and George Marks (Clemson University), defenders Chris Gloster (Hannover 96) and Lennard Maloney (FC Union Berlin), midfielders Taylor Booth (Unattached) and Sean Zawadzki (Crew SC Academy), and forwards George Acosta (Boca Juniors) and Sebastian Soto (Real Salt Lake).

Of the 20 players brought into camp, 19 have registered at least one season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. Six of those players lead the way in Academy seasons, each having competed in the Academy program for five seasons: Christopher Goslin (Atlanta United FC), Justin Rennicks (Indiana University), Samual Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC), Aedan Stanley (St. Louis FC), Aristotle Zarris (LA Galaxy) and Zawadzki.

The roster also includes ten DA Best XI conference selections from the recently concluded 2017-18 Academy season, as well as from past seasons:

Griff Dorsey (Central, U-15/16, 2016*)
Justin Garces (East, U-18/19, 2018*)
Richie Ledezma (West, U-15/16, 2017; West, U-18/19, 2018*)
Trey Muse (West, U-15/16, 2016; West, U-17/18, 2017*)
Paxton Pomykal (Central, U-15/16, 2016)
Justin Rennicks (East, U-15/16, 2016)
Samual Rogers (West, U-17/18, 2017)
Brandon Servania (Central, U-15/16, 2016; Central, U-17/18, 2017)
Sebastian Soto (West, U-15/16, 2017; West, U-18/19, 2018)
Aedan Stanley (Central, U-15/16, 2015; Central, U-15/16, 2016; Central, U-17/18, 2017; Central, U-18/19, 2018)

*Also named conference player of the year

Of the 20 players named, 12 were born in 1999, the age cut-off year for the 2019 U-20 World Cup. Seven were born in 2000 and the only 2001 birth year called up is Booth.

U.S. U-20 MNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Justin Garces (Atlanta United FC; Miami, Fla.), George Marks (Clemson; Raleigh, N.C.), Trey Muse (Indiana; Tukwila, Wash.)

DEFENDERS (5): Chris Gloster (Hannover 96; South Orange, N.J.), Lennard Maloney (FC Union Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Manny Perez (NC State University; Garner, N.C.), Samual Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.), Aedan Stanley (St. Louis FC, Columbia, Ill.)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Christopher Goslin (Atlanta United FC; Atlanta, Ga.), Richie Ledezma (Real Salt Lake; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas, Highland Village, Texas), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas; Birmingham, Ala.), Aristotle Zarris (LA Galaxy; Sarasota, Fla.), Sean Zawadski (Crew SC Academy; Olmsted Falls, Ohio)

FORWARDS (5): George Acosta (Boca Juniors; Miami, Fla.), Shaft Brewer Jr. (LAFC; Sacramento, Calif.), Griff Dorsey (Indiana; Evergreen, Colo.), Justin Rennicks (Indiana; Hamilton, Mass.), Sebastian Soto (Real Salt Lake; Carlsbad, Calif.)

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