MLS New England Revolution

Five Revs Invited to U.S. National Team Camp

Published on December 19, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - Five members of the New England Revolution have been invited to the first U.S. Men's National Team Training Camp of 2007, which will be held Jan. 4-20 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Forward Taylor Twellman, defender Michael Parkhurst, goalkeeper Matt Reis, forward Pat Noonan and midfielder Clint Dempsey will attend the camp conducted in preparation for the USMNT's first match of 2007, which will be played against Denmark on Jan. 20, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and be televised live at 4:50 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The January training camp will also the first under newly-installed USMNT interim head coach Bob Bradley. Of the 30 invitees to January's camp, 29 are U.S.-based, Major League Soccer players.

"This is a great opportunity to get a first-hand look at a wide variety of domestic-based players as we begin a new World Cup cycle," said Bradley. "Along with some experienced players, we have quite a few players who will be getting their first exposure to the national team."

Twellman, who tied with Dempsey as the leading scorers for the USMNT in 2006 with four goals, was an alternate selection for the U.S.' 2006 World Cup squad. He has earned 19 caps and scored five goals with the National Team, including a hat trick against Norway on Jan. 29, 2006. Twellman scored 11 goals in the 2006 MLS regular season, and added three goals in the postseason, including a goal in MLS Cup 2006. Twellman is one of six forwards invited to the camp.

Parkhurst, one of nine defenders invited, will make his first appearance at a MNT training camp. The Cranston, R.I., native was invited to a training camp early in 2006, but declined the invitation because of injury. The 2005 MLS Rookie of the Year recently returned from a successful tour of England with MLS' Generation adidas team in early December.

After being named an alternate for the U.S.' 2006 World Cup squad, Reis returns to training with the USMNT. In his only prior appearance with the Nats, Reis posted a shutout against Canada on Jan. 22, 2006 in San Diego. Reis was the Revs' 2006 MVP, and led MLS' full-time goalkeepers in shutouts (10), saves (141) and goals against average (1.09) in 2006 after starting and playing every minute of all 32 games while leading the Revs to MLS Cup 2006. He is one of four keepers attending the camp.

Noonan, who was also an alternate to the 2006 U.S. World Cup squad, has earned 13 caps and scored one goal with the National Team. After scoring his first international goal against Columbia on March 9, 2005, in Fullerton, Calif., Noonan emerged as a major player on the USMNT before injuries limited his time in 2006. Playing just 14 MLS games last season, Noonan scored one goal and added three assists before appearing in the Revs' final three playoffs games.

Dempsey, who was the only U.S. player to score a goal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup last June and was later named Honda Player of the Year as the top player on the USMNT, returns to National Team duty for the first time since the World Cup squad this summer. He has earned 23 caps and scored six goals with the MNT. Dempsey is one of 11 midfielders invited to the camp.

"Obviously, the goal for developing our team is to be ready for World Cup qualifying in 2008, and this is where we start. At the same time, we want to be prepared to compete against Denmark, and many of these players have recently had a long break from soccer. With only a short period of time to prepare, we will have to work very hard to get our players both physically and mentally ready to play," Bradley said.

After the Denmark match, the U.S. will host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 7 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Along with a series of friendlies, the United States will compete in two major championships next summer. The three-time champions will first try to defend their title against 11 other teams at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, scheduled from June 6-24 in several cities across the United States, including Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Just a few days later, the U.S. will participate in the 2007 Copa America, the regional championship of South America. The 12-team tournament will run from June 26 to July 15 in nine cities across Venezuela. For the United States, the appearance will mark their third entrance into CONMEBOL's signature event.

Revolution Holiday 4-Packs are on-sale now and make great gifts. Each 4-pack includes one ticket to the Revolution's home opener doubleheader on April 14 - featuring the Revs against expansion club Toronto FC following the United States Women's National Team in an international friendly match. The 4-packs also include one ticket to two more standalone regular season home games as well as a free adidas Revolution hat! Holiday 4-Packs prices are: Cat. I - $115, Cat. II - $85 and Cat. III - $65.

For more information call 1-877-GET-REVS.

USMNT JANUARY TRAINING CAMP ROSTER BY POSITION

Goalkeepers (4)

Joe Cannon (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Troy Perkins (D.C. United), Matt Reis (New England Revolution)

Defenders (9)

Chris Albright (Los Angeles Galaxy), Bobby Boswell (D.C. United), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Dasan Robinson (Chicago Fire) Eddie Robinson (Houston Dynamo)

Midfielders (11)

Kyle Beckerman (Colorado Rapids), Brian Carroll (D.C. United), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Joshua Gros (D.C. United), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Brian Mullan (Houston Dynamo)

Forwards (6)

Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United), Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pat Noonan (New England Revolution), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution)

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Major League Soccer Stories from December 19, 2006


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