U.S. U17s Prepare
U.S. U17 Men’s National Team head coach John Hackworth’s 24-player roster for the upcoming camp in Park City, Utah has been unveiled. The national camp takes place from Aug. 14 through the 22.
Hackworth will be carefully working with the platers to determine the final 20 player roster for the 2016 Torneo Naciones de Mexico later this month in Mexico City. The USA will meet Portugal on the field first and then Qatar, finishing the tournament with a match against Mexico.
Hackworth has been the head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team since Dec. 23, 2015 — and was previously the team’s head coach from 2004 through 2007. As U-17 MNT head coach, Hackworth leds the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The former MLS’s Philadelphia Union Coach and Youth Development Coordinator, Hackworth was also the assistant coach for Wake Forest University in the early ’90s, and head coach at the University of South Florida at the end of that decade.
To prepare for the competition, Hackworth’s squad will play two friendlies; one against the collegiate team from Utah Valley University and then match skills against RSL Monarchs.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alexander Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Justin Garces (Kendall FC; Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (8): Jake Arteaga (LA Galaxy; Glendora, Calif.), Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United; Roswell, Ga.), Kelee Cornfield-Saunders (LA Galaxy; San Marcos, Calif.), Kendall Edwards (Atlanta United; Atlanta, Ga.), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Rayshaun McGann (Philadelphia Union; Royal Palm Beach, Fla.), Jose Rivera (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State; Mira Loma, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): George Acosta (Weston FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake AZ; Eden, Utah), Christopher Durkin (D.C. United; Glen Allen, Va.), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC; Southlake, Texas), Christopher Goslin (Atlanta United; Locust Grove, Ga.), James Sands (New York Soccer Club; Rye, N.Y.), Adrian Villegas (Portland Timbers; Hood River, Ore.), Akil Watts (IMG Academy; Fort Wayne, Ind.)
FORWARDS (6): Ayomide Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton, Ont.), Andrew Carleton (Atlanta United; Powder Springs, Ga.), Patrick Cassagnol (SIMA; Silver Spring, Md.), Zyen Jones (Atlanta United; Clarkston, Ga.), Joshua Sargent (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallen, Mo.), Timothy Weah (Paris Saint-Germain; Rosedale, N.Y.)
Is this long range preparation for the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football) 2017 CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, which will be hosted by Panama and take place April 21-May 7, 2017? As America’s national teams strive to perform better and seek time on the international soccer stage, these camps become even more important. At CONCACAF, when the 12 teams compete — 4 from Central American Football Union (UNCAF) teams, 5 from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and 3 from North America; Canada, Mexico and the United States — we must be ready to demonstrate our devotion and skills on and off the field.
