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Real Salt Lake FW Benji Lopez Named to US U-20 Men's National Team

July 10, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Thursday, July 10, 2014) - Real Salt Lake FW Benji Lopez has been named to the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team roster to participate in the 2014 NTC Invitational Tournament that will be held at U.S. Soccer's National Training Center in Carson, Calif., from July 14-18. This is Lopez's fourth call-up to the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team.

The U.S. squad will congregate today for training camp in preparation for its three friendly matches in the NTC Invitational. The U.S. will kick off the tournament against Chile on July 14 at 5:00 p.m. MT and then face Bermuda two days later on July 16 at 5:00 p.m. MT. The U.S. will close out the tournament with a match against Australia on July 18 at 8:00 p.m. MT that will be broadcast live on ussoccer.com.

The U.S. roster for the tournament is made up of a solid group of players with extensive experience in the U.S. Youth National Team Program as 11 players have reached a minimum of ten Youth National Team call-ups already in their young international careers. Dating back to last November's international training camp in Verona, Italy, when this current iteration of the U-20 MNT was assembled, seven players, including Lopez, have been included in a roster-high four U-20 MNT events. Lopez most recently featured for the U.S. U-20 Men's National Team in the 2014 Dallas Cup last April. The 19-year-old helped lead the U-20's to a second-place finish, recording one goal in the tournament.

Lopez was signed as an RSL Homegrown Player on July 17, 2013 - the fourth player to graduate from the RSL-Arizona Academy to the first-team. Lopez is currently on loan with USL Pro club Arizona United Soccer Club for the 2014 season. The California native has yet to appear with RSL's first-team.

U.S. U-20 MNT NTC Invitational Tournament and Broadcast Schedule :

Date Teams Time [PT] Location Broadcast

July 14 AUS v BER 1 p.m. Mooch Myernick Field none

USA v CHI 4 p.m. Mooch Myernick Field none

July 16 AUS v CHI 1 p.m. Mooch Myernick Field none

USA v BER 4 p.m. Mooch Myernick Field none

July 18 BER v CHI 4 p.m. StubHub Center ussoccer.com

USA v AUS 7 p.m. StubHub Center ussoccer.com

Roster by Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Zack Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.)

DEFENDERS (7): Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Conor Donovan (Carolina RailHawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Maryland; Mitchellville, Md.), Shaquell Moore (FC Dallas; Powder Springs, Ga.), John Requejo Jr. (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.), Caleb Smith (Solar Chelsea SC; Arlington, Texas), Jesus Vasquez (UANL Tigres; San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS (6): Fernando Arce (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Russell Canouse (TSG Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland; Santa Cruz, Calif.), Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.)

FORWARDS (5): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy II; Los Angeles, Calif.), Benji Lopez (Arizona United SC; San Diego, Calif.), Andrija Novakovich (Reading; Muskego, Wis.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.)

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