CHICAGO (Sept. 2, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team head coach Richie Williams has invited 29 players to the 2014 Fall Semester of the U.S. U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida.

Twenty players return from the 2014 Spring Semester. The nine newcomers include defenders Tyler Adams and Miles Stray, midfielders Keegan Kelly and Luka Prpa, and forwards Lucas Del Rosario, Ronaldo Escudero, Joe Gallardo, Lagos Kunga and Nick Taitague.

Gallardo is the leading goal scorer on the roster with nine tallies in 11 games with the U-17s. He has four goals and three assists in seven matches in 2014. The most-capped player among this roster at the U-17 level is defender Hugo Arellano, who has played in 16 internationals, including 13 games in 2014.

This group features 26 players who are currently registered with clubs in U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy.

The U-17s recently competed in the Nordic Tournament and the third Copa Mexico, and 24 of the players on the Fall Residency roster played in either one of these tournaments or both.

The next major event for the U.S. U-17 MNT is the 2015 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. The tournament, hosted by Honduras from Feb. 27-March 14, serves as the qualification process for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup from May 30-June 20 in New Zealand.

About the U-17 Residency Program:
The U.S. players live on campus at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and train in the morning under the guidance of the U.S. U-17 MNT coaching staff. In the afternoon, the players attend classes at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School. While in the full-time residency program, the U.S. not only trains daily, but also has access to the IMG Academy facilities. The team regularly uses IMG’s state-of-the-art strength-training facilities, as well as some of the nation’s best sports psychologists who work at the Academy. The IMG Academies include top-of-the-line soccer equipment, Bermuda grass fields, renovated student housing and dining facilities.

Since its inception, approximately 400 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 100 players have moved on to Major League Soccer and other professional leagues.

The first full-time U.S. Soccer Residency Program began on Jan. 17, 1999, when U.S. Soccer collected 20 of the country’s elite youth players to train year-round.

U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy Academy; Westminster, Calif.), William Pulisic (Richmond United; Mechanicsville, Va.), Kevin Silva (Players Development Academy; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (9): Tyler Adams (New York Red Bulls Academy; Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), Nikkye De Point (Empire Revolution; Rochester, N.Y.), Tanner Dieterich (Real Salt Lake AZ; Nashville, Tenn.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Logan Panchot (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.), Miles Stray (Real Salt Lake AZ; Point Reyes, Calif.), Alexis Velela (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): George Braima (Crew Soccer Academy; Columbus, Ohio), Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Keegan Kelly (Baltimore Celtic; Baltimore, Md.), Thomas McCabe (Players Development Academy; South Orange, N.J.), Weston McKennie (FC Dallas Academy; Little Elm, Texas), Luka Prpa (Chicago Magic PSG; Wind Lake, Wis.), Brian Zelaya (De Anza Force; San Mateo, Calif.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas Academy; El Paso, Texas)
FORWARDS (9): Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Ronaldo Escudero (Pateadores; Placentia, Calif.), McKinze Gaines (Lonestar SC; Austin, Texas), Joe Gallardo (Monterrey; San Diego, Calif.), Lagos Kunga (DDYSC 98 Wolves Elite; Atlanta, Ga.), Eric Matzelevich (Bethesda-Olney; Washington, D.C.), Elijah Rice (Chicago Magic PSG; Highland Park, Ill.), Nick Taitague (Richmond United; Midlothian, Va.)

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13