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RSL Trio Named To The 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic Soccer Selection

July 17, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SALT LAKE CITY (Thursday, July 17, 2008) - U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach Piotr Nowak has named two Real Salt Lake players - GK Chris Seitz and D/M Nathan Sturgis - to the 18-man squad that will compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, with RSL FW Robbie Findley being named as one of four alternates.

Following Saturday's RSL game at Chicago against the Fire (live on KSL 5 TV at 6:30 p.m. MT), Seitz and Sturgis leave for Olympic camp beginning on Sunday at the Stanford University campus in Palo Alto, CA, in preparation for the U.S. Group B games against Japan on August 7, The Netherlands on August 10, and Nigeria on August 13. Findley will remain with RSL unless injury or other circumstances dictate him being called in to join the squad in Palo Alto or Beijing.

Seitz, selected by RSL with the #4 overall pick in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Maryland, shared goalkeeping duties with alternate netminder Dominic Cervi during Olympic qualifying and combined for a goals against average of just 0.40 over five games, with Seitz posting a 2-0-1 record and 0.33 GAA in his three appearances in the tournament. The 21-year-old Seitz has been a long-time member of the U.S. Youth National Team system and has been widely regarded as the top ‘keeper in the U-23 camp since the team began preparations for Olympic qualifying in late 2007. He will compete for the starting job with Chivas USA veteran Brad Guzan, one of the three overage players named to the squad, whose transfer to the English Premier League's Aston Villa is pending approval of his work permit.

"This is a huge honor for me and my family to represent the U.S. in the Olympics," said Seitz, a California native. "I also understand that I am representing the RSL shield and the State of Utah. We are in a tough group, but I also think the U.S. will surprise some people."

Sturgis, acquired from the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2007 midseason trade that also brought Findley to Utah in exchange for veteran Chris Klein, has battled a nagging hamstring injury recently, but returned to the MLS field in the second half of Saturday's 2-0 home win over Columbus. Sturgis started four games during Olympic qualifying, three of those as a defender, as the U.S. allowed only two goals throughout the entire qualifying tournament. Having been a regular for the United States Youth National Team program at the U-17 and U-20 levels, the 21-year old Sturgis is one of the most experience players at the U-23 level when it comes to national team competition. He is expected to compete for a starting center or left back spot with the Olympic squad.

"It's been a tough road lately, trying to get healthy enough to pursue my Olympic dream," said Sturgis. "I'm sure the magnitude of the selection will hit me when we get over to China, but it is obviously a great honor. I'm glad to have (teammate Chris) Seitz along for the ride."

Findley, RSL's 2007 Budweiser "Golden Boot" winner who again leads RSL with four goals this season, including three off the bench, was key to the U.S. qualification process. Findley participated in all five games for the Red, White, and Blue in the CONCACAF tourney, starting three and registering an assist against Cuba. Since earning his first appearance with the Senior U.S. National Team, Findley is a valuable and experienced alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team.

"As far as I'm concerned, being an alternate is being named as part of the team," said Findley. "It's an honor to even be recognized in this manner. My focus is on helping Real Salt Lake win games and stay in first place, but if I'm needed by my country, I'll be ready."

Major League Soccer contributes ten players to the U.S. squad. RSL is one of four teams sending a pair of players, along with Chivas USA (Brad Guzan and Sacha Kljestan), the Houston Dynamo (Stuart Holden and Patrick Ianni), and Toronto FC (Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne). Michael Parkhurst of New England and Robbie Rogers of Columbus, both MLS All-Stars, round out the MLS contingent.

In addition to MLS, seven leagues from across the globe contribute players to the U.S. Olympic Team roster. Former MLS stars Freddy Adu (Portugal) and Jozy Altidore (Spain) join the U.S. from the Iberian Peninsula, and they are joined by fellow former MLS players Michael Bradley (The Netherlands) and Danny Szetela (Italy) on the U.S. squad. 2007 Gold Cup star Benny Feilhaber (England), San Luis (Mexico) defender Michael Orozco, and Hammarby IF (Sweden) forward Charlie Davies complete the Olympic Team.

The U.S. will be participating in its 13th Olympic Games, earning their place by advancing to the final of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying in March. The Americans finished the tournament with a 3-1-1 record, with their only loss coming to Honduras in overtime of the championship match. Both teams had already secured their ticket to Beijing, the United States defeating Canada in one semifinal while Honduras ousted Guatemala in the other.

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