MLS D.C. United

D.C. United Academy update

Published on June 9, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
D.C. United News Release


U-17 Team Recovers from Spain: D.C. United's Under 17 Academy team (which is comprised of the top players from the U-16 and U-18 teams) returned to a week of intersquad training and watching the 1st team defeat the Chicago Fire on Saturday. The program is once again focusing on the 2008 MLS U-17 Cup, which will be played again in Denver on July 3-8. The Champions qualify for the ‘Trofeo Quixote', the U-17 Clubs Youth World Cup, to be held in Spain next August. This is the same tournament in which the team competed this May, coming out with two losses and an impressive victory over Spanish side Sevilla FC 1-0. The team will leave for Connecticut this Friday to play against Oakwood Soccer Club on Saturday and South Central Premier on Sunday.

D.C. United Director of Youth Development and U-18 Head Coach John Maessner mentioned that in the start of the summer season, "we will be pushing the best academy players into the 1st team trainings, which is a very special opportunity and an important part of the program." Maessner also said that local product Julio Arjona, who currently plays for the U-17 Men's National Team in Bradenton, Florida, has been training with the 1st team and showing promising talent.

The Academy's other youth teams, the U-20 and U-15 teams are also restarting their summer seasons. The U-20 team competes in United Soccer League's Super Y-League - one of the most competitive leagues in the country - and kicks off against Real Maryland on Tuesday, June 10 at 5pm at the Maryland Soccerplex. The U-15 Academy Developmental Training Program begins on Wednesday, June 11 and is specifically designed to identify and evaluate potential talent for the D.C. United 2009 U-16 Academy team, and will be integrated with current U-16 players during training.

Tryouts for the upcoming academy teams will be held in the second, third, and fourth weeks in August. Specific times and dates will be posted on the Youth Academy website shortly at www.dcunited.com.

Spring All-Met Rosters Announced: Four members of the D.C. United youth academy teams have been named to the Spring All-Met list. Junior Bioh, a junior at Stonewall Jackson High School, and Sean Murnane, a junior at Herndon High School, earned First Team honors, while senior Greg Goldbach from Marshall High School and sophomore Steven Mashinsky from Chantilly High School received Honorable Mention.

Several Academy players also earned the prestigious recognition in the Fall of 2007, including Prince Lapnet (who was awarded 2007 Player of the Year as well as First Team honors) from Archbishop Carroll High School, Darnell Edwards and Chris Hengni from DeMatha High School (First Team), Marcus Douglas from Gonzaga High School (First Team), Stefone Coburn from Archbishop High School (Second Team), Parnell Hengni from DeMatha High School (Second Team), Dan Rice from Gonzaga High School (Third Team), and Ryan Amons from Gonzaga High School (Honorable Mention).

Youth Camps Commence Next Week: D.C. United Youth Camps will start next week with a full-day session at RFK Stadium and a half-day session in Hagerstown, Maryland. Brothers Micah and Judah Cooks will be running both camps along with appearances from D.C. United players, former player and current Youth Academy Director John Maessner, and D.C. United legend Marco Etcheverry. In addition, current and past academy team players will be helping out at each camp.

Academy Camp Manager Greg Steininger notes that the High School Invitational to be held at Catholic University Campus is still looking for players, and interested individuals can send a soccer resume to academy@dcunited.com .

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 9, 2008


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