17 USL alumni among 30-man US camp roster
Published on December 21, 2005 under USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
CHICAGO, IL - Seventeen former USL players were among the list of 30 players invited to the upcoming US Men's National Team training camp January 4 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. by team manager Bruce Arena. The group will prepare for a series of friendlies to take place in January and February.
Highlighting the list is current Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who was honored as the Premier Development League Goalkeeper of the Year just over a year ago. He led the Chicago Fire Premier to an unbeaten 17-0-1 season in 2004 with a league-low 0.39 goals against average, allowing just five goals in 13 games.
The Fire Premier will also have two other alumni at the camp with 2002 midfielder Ricardo Clark and 2003-04 striker Chris Rolfe on the list. The Boulder Rapids Reserve and Bradenton Academics each had two players on the list with Kyle Martino representing Bradenton, Nate Jaqua representing Boulder and Heath Pearce, the lone European-based player on the roster, representing both.
Overall, nine players have PDL experience, while half of the USL alumni have played in the USL First Division. Brian Ching, now in Houston with MLS, is the lone representative to have played at both levels, earning the 1998 PDL Rookie of the Year honor in his first of two seasons with the Spokane Shadow and 2002 USL First Division All-League First team honors in his second season with the Seattle Sounders.
The U.S. will open 2006 action against Canada on Jan. 22 in San Diego (5 p.m. PT), then host Norway on Jan. 29 at The Home Depot Center (2 p.m. PT, ESPN2). The U.S. will play Japan for only the second time in history when they meet at SBC Park on Feb. 10 in San Francisco. The USA's first match in the city in 26 years kicks off at 8 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
"We eagerly look forward to seeing our domestic players," said U.S. Manager Bruce Arena. "We want to do the best job we can of making the roster as competitive as possible over the next six months so we can position our team to be successful in the World Cup. We view this camp and the games in January and February as critical towards our preparation for Germany."
FC Nordsjælland defender Heath Pearce, who made his debut for the senior team in the 1-1 draw against Scotland on Nov. 12 in Glasgow, is the only European-based player on the roster and is available because the Danish Super League is shut down for the winter break.
Arena has called four goalkeepers into camp, including both starters from MLS Cup '05 in Kevin Hartman and Matt Reis. Brad Guzan becomes the first player called from Chivas USA to a U.S. camp, and is one of five players making their debut. Former Super Y-League player Freddy Adu, Todd Dunivant, Ugo Ihemelu and Nate Jaqua round out the rookie class.
The U.S. will play two friendlies in March, including a visit to three-time World Cup champions Germany. The 2002 FIFA World Cup runners up will host the U.S. on March 22, 2006, in Dortmund, Germany, one off 12 cities hosting matches in the tournament next summer. Kickoff at the Westfalenstadion is set for 8 p.m. in Germany (2 p.m. ET), and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN. Fans can follow the match live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker.
The USA was drawn into Group E for the 2006 FIFA World Cup along with the Czech Republic, Ghana, and Italy. The U.S. plays their opening match against the Czechs on June 12 in Gelsenkirchen at 12 p.m. ET. Five days later, the USA faces Italy in Kaiserslautern, and then finishes off group play against Ghana on June 22 in Nuremberg. The U.S. has chosen the northern port city of Hamburg as their base of operations throughout the tournament.
U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp Roster January 2006 - Cason, Calif.
ROSTER BY POSITION - USL Experience Listed (a detailed roster is available at www.ussoccer.com)
Goalkeepers (4) - Brad Guzan (Chicago Fire Premier 2004), Kevin Hartman, Matt Reis (Orange County Wave 2000), Jonny Walker (Jacksonville Cyclones 1997)
Defenders (8) - Chris Albright (US Pro 40 1999), Jimmy Conrad (US Pro 40, San Francisco Bay Seals 1999, San Diego Flash 1998), Todd Dunivant, Frankie Hejduk, Ugo Ihemelu, Chad Marshall, Heath Pearce (Boulder Rapids Reserve 2004, Bradenton Academics 2001-03), Eddie Pope
Midfielders (12) - Freddy Adu (U14 SYL D.C. United 2001), Brian Carroll (Richmond Kickers 2003), Ricardo Clark (Chicago Fire Premier 2002), Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, Justin Mapp (Richmond Kickers, Hampton Roads Mariners 2002), Kyle Martino (Bradenton Academics 1998), Pablo Mastroeni, Pat Noonan (Michigan Bucks 2001-02, Kalamazoo Kingdom 2001, Team St Louis 1999), Ben Olsen (Hershey Wildcats 2001), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United), Steve Ralston (New England Revolution)
Forwards (6) - Brian Ching (Seattle Sounders 2001-02, Spokane Shadow 1998-99), Nate Jaqua (Boulder Rapids Reserve 2002), Eddie Johnson, Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire Premier 2003-04), Taylor Twellman, Josh Wolff (US Pro 40 1998)
USL First Division Stories from December 21, 2005
- 17 USL alumni among 30-man US camp roster - USL-1
- USL Alumni Round-Up - USL-1
- Toronto Lady Lynx Announce 2006 Schedule - Toronto Lynx
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