MLS D.C. United

16 D.C. United Academy Players Announce College Commitments

Published on February 4, 2015 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


Washington, D.C. (Feb. 4, 2015) - D.C. United has announced that 16 players from the D.C. United Academy have committed to play collegiate soccer at 13 different academic institutions, including some of the nation's top Division I programs. Tyler Beaudoin, Antonio Bustamante, Jorge Calix, Alonzo Clarke, Jimmy Filerman, Brennan Ireland, Patrick Jean-Gilles, James Knoebel, Jean-Christophe Koffi, Owen Marshall, Timothy Oberg, Austin Pelto, Daniel Reeves, Scott Rissler, Ibrahim Seye and Eryk Williamson are graduating seniors that currently play for D.C. United's U-18 Development Academy team.

"We are excited for this group of players and are proud of all of the work that they have put in on the field and in the classroom," said D.C. United U-18 Head Coach and Head Youth Scout Tom Torres . "Many of these players have been training and competing in the academy for over three years. Today is the culmination of many years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice from the players, their parents and the entire academy staff. We are confident that all of these players will represent D.C. United well, both athletically and academically."

Of the D.C. United Academy's 19 graduating seniors, 16 have signed National Letters of Intent to play at NCAA Division I programs. Each year, the D.C. United Academy consistently places an overwhelming majority of its graduating U-18 class into Division I programs. Seven D.C. United Academy players have also gone on to sign Homegrown contracts with the First Team: Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Conor Shanosky, Ethan White, Michael Seaton, Collin Martin and Jalen Robinson. Najar, who is currently with R.S.C. Anderlecht in Belgium, was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2010 and represented Honduras at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Hamid was the first Homegrown player to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 2014.

Among the 16 players, eight of the commits played in the early stages of the club's academy program and worked their way up through the system. Williamson and Calix, who will be teammates at the University of Maryland, have also recently been guest players at the First Team's initial preseason training camp of 2015 in Bradenton, Fla.

The following players (in alphabetical order) have announced their official university commitments:

Tyler Beaudoin - Loyola University (Md.)

DOB: 1/19/97

Hometown: Montgomery Village, Md.

Position: Goalkeeper

Tenure at D.C. United: 5 years

Previous Club: Bethesda Soccer Club

Antonio Bustamante - College of William & Mary

DOB: 6/20/97

Hometown: Springfield, Va.

Position: Midfielder

Tenure at D.C. United: 3 years

Previous Club: McLean

Jorge Calix - University of Maryland

DOB: 2/6/96

Hometown: Alexandria, Va.

Position: Midfielder

Tenure at D.C. United: 5 years

Previous Club: Team America

Alonzo Clarke - University of Akron

DOB: 10/26/97

Hometown: New Carrollton, Md.

Position: Defender

Tenure at D.C. United: 1 year

Previous Club: Bethesda-Olney Academy

Jimmy Filerman - Old Dominion University

DOB: 11/11/95

Hometown: Vienna, Va.

Position: Forward

Tenure at D.C. United: 5 years

Previous Club: Vienna Youth Soccer

Brennan Ireland - Penn State University

DOB: 4/11/97

Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Position: Defender

Tenure at D.C. United: 2 years

Previous Club: Century V

Patrick Jean-Gilles - University of Maryland, Baltimore County

DOB: 9/28/97

Hometown: Lorton, Va.

Position: Midfielder

Tenure at D.C. United: 4 years

Previous Club: Arlington

James Knoebel - Old Dominion University

DOB: 9/5/96

Hometown: Warrenton, Va.

Position: Goalkeeper

Tenure at D.C. United: 2 years

Previous Club: McLean

Jean-Christophe Koffi - University of Virginia

DOB: 1/5/98

Hometown: Potomac, Md.

Position: Midfielder

Tenure at D.C. United: 4 years

Previous Club: Tap Barca

Owen Marshall - Columbia University

DOB: 5/13/97

Hometown: Bethesda, Md.

Position: Forward

Tenure at D.C. United: 4 years

Previous Club: DC Stoddert

Timothy Oberg - Colgate University

DOB: 12/6/96

Hometown: Bethesda, Md.

Position: Midfielder

Tenure at D.C. United: 3 years

Previous Club: Montgomery Soccer Club

Austin Pelto - James Madison University

DOB: 9/5/96

Hometown: Fairfax, Va.

Position: Defender

Tenure at D.C. United: 5 years

Previous Club: Vienna Youth Soccer

Daniel Reeves - University of Maryland

DOB: 10/14/97

Hometown: Ashton, Md.

Position: Forward

Tenure at D.C. United: 2 years

Previous Club: SAC

Scott Rissler - Duquesne University

DOB: 9/27/96

Hometown: York, Pa.

Position: Goalkeeper

Tenure at D.C. United: 2 years

Previous Club: FC York

Ibrahim Seye - West Point

DOB: 5/31/97

Hometown: Fairfax, Va.

Position: Defender

Tenure at D.C. United: 5 years

Previous Club: Vienna Youth Soccer

Eryk Williamson - University of Maryland

DOB: 6/11/97

Hometown: Alexandria, Va.

Position: Forward

Tenure at D.C. United: 1 year

Previous Club: Arlington

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