MLS D.C. United

D.C. United Academy announces Player of the Year awards

Published on September 30, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


Washington, D.C. (September 30, 2008) - D.C. United today announced Paul Torres was named Under 16 Player of the Year, while Matt Oduaran earned the Under 18 Player of the Year award. Both players will be honored for their performances on the field last season during halftime of United's Champions League match against Cruz Azul on Wednesday at 8:00 p.m.

"We have been blessed to have Paul and Matt in our program," said United Director of Youth Development John Maessner. "They have been outstanding both on and off the field for us consistently throughout the 2007-2008 Academy year. We are excited to monitor Matt's progress and thrilled to have Paul returning to our U18 team this fall. Both of these players have the potential to play professionally, and we will be watching them very closely over the next few years."

Torres captained the Black-and-Red U16 squad that finished the 2007-2008 season with a 16-8-6 record, good for second place in the Mid-Atlantic Conference. He was named to the Under 16 Academy Starting XI for his performance in the inaugural U.S. Soccer Development Academy by coaches and National Team scouts. He was also named to the Mid-Atlantic Starting XI.

Oduaran was the U18s leading goal scorer during the 2007-08 season. He now plays for the University of Maryland, currently ranked second in the NCAA. He has so far played seven games for the Terrapins this season, recording one assist and scoring his first collegiate goal against American University last week. Torres plans to follow Oduaran's lead and attend Maryland in the fall of 2009.

D.C. United will be holding an orientation meeting for current Academy players and their families tomorrow night in the VW Lounge at RFK Stadium, between 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., where Torres and Oduaran's achievements will also be honored. All media are invited to attend this event, which will include addresses by United President and CEO Kevin Payne, General Manager Dave Kasper, and Head Coach Tom Soehn. In addition, Maessner will lead the evening with a presentation on the Academy and its plans for the 2008-2009 season. The following Academy players will attend the event and will be available to speak with media:

U16 - Gerald Aloh, Yaw Amankwa, Dallas Aminzadeh, Daniel Artin, Sam Bradley, Justin Brooks, Sebastian Cahe, Luiz Cartagena, Lester Dewee, Sophien Djemmal, Emile Doak, Josh Ellis, Allan Flott, Oseghae Iguade, Steven Mashinski, Myles McGinley, Noah Merlin, Roi Momo, Mauriccio Navarrete, Nicholas Njuki, Phillip Nwosu, Coleman O'Neill, Kennedy O'Shea, Kody Palmer, Andy Rodriguez, Kamar Saint-Louis, Marcus Salandy-Defour, Julian Saldana, Nick Smirniotopoulos, Eric Valladares Joey Wilkins and Nicky Yin;

U18 - Stefan Berkeley, William Bioh, Michael Burgos, Ricky Burke, Stefone Coburn, Shane Cooke, Peabo Doue, Marcus Douglas, Uwem Etuk, Michael Funes, Bayron Gudiel, Christopher Hegngi, Alex Herrera, Kevin McBride, Sean Murnane, Michael Nerud, Chris Perez, Travis Pittman, Daniel Rice, Aaron Rilling, Ryan Runion, Adel Sarras, Isaac Taylor, Harold Tchamoni, Paul Torres, Ethan White and Eric Williams;

Past Academy players - Darnell Edwards, Ryan Gracia, Chris Jumalon, Matt Oduaran and Howard Turk.

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