U.S., Mexico Rosters Released for Exhibitions
Published on October 16, 2014 under Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Ontario Fury News Release
SAN DIEGO, CA - U.S. National Arena Soccer Team head coach Phil Salvagio today announced the preliminary U.S. National Arena Soccer Team roster for this weekend's coming exhibitions against the Mexican Arena National Soccer Team in San Diego, and the Las Vegas Legends on Sunday in Ontario.
"The road to the World Cup begins this weekend," said USNAST head coach Phil Salvagio, "The players on this team have been selected for their talent, teamwork and dedication. There could be changes between now and the World Cup. No spot on this roster is guaranteed and all our players know they need to perform."
Six members of the San Diego Sockers will be featured on the roster, the most of any individual Major Arena Soccer League club. Three-time PASL MVP Kraig Chiles and former Milwaukee Wave turned Sockers forward Nick Perera will be up top at a loaded forward position, joined by Missouri Comets' two-time first-team all-MISL forward Leo Gibson, PASL assists record holder Enrique Tovar, and Ontario Fury striker Tino Nunez. The Sockers' Brian Farber, Chiky Luna and Jeff Hughes will be joined in the U.S. midfield by Nelson Santana of the Syracuse Silver Knights and Felipe Gonzalez of the Las Vegas Legends. The back line will include Baltimore Blast defender Pat Healey and Las Vegas defender Eric Guzman. Missouri Comets keeper Danny Waltman will be in goal along with the Sockers' Chris Toth. San Diego's Anthony Medina is a field reserve for the weekend's games.
"We will experiment with lineups and formations during the preseason," said Salvagio, "players who score for their parent clubs may be asked to defend here. It's all about bringing the Cup home to the United States."
The World Mini-Football Federation (WMF) World Cup will take place in the spring of 2015 across select venues in the U.S., including San Diego. Further details will be announced closer to the Cup.
Name Position Current MASL Club Career
Danny Waltman GK Missouri Comets 2011/12 US National Futsal Team Co-Captain US National Futsal Team
Chris Toth GK San Diego Sockers 2014 All PASL Honorable Mention
Pat Healey DEF Baltimore Blast 2 Time All MISL 2nd Team 2011/2013 - Co-Captain US National Futsal Team
Eric Guzman DEF Las Vegas Legends 2013 All PASL Team
Brian Farber MID San Diego Sockers PASL MVP 2009 - 5 Time All PASL
Chiky Luna MID San Diego Sockers Starter on all 4 Sockers PASL title teams
Jeff Hughes MID San Diego Sockers PASL MVP 2010 - 3 Time All PASL
Nelson Santana MID Syracuse Silver Knights 3 Time All MISL 2012-14
Felipe Gonzales MID Las Vegas Legends Legends power play specialist
Kraig Chiles FOR San Diego Sockers PASL MVP 2011, 12, 13
Nick Perera FOR San Diego Sockers 2014 US National Beach Soccer Team
Leo Gibson FOR Missouri Comets 3 Time All MISL 2012-14
Enrique Tovar FOR Turlock Express PASL All Time Assist Leader
Tino Nunez FOR Ontario Fury MLS Real Salt Lake/USL Roch. Rhino's
Anthony Medina Reserve San Diego Sockers Started all 48 gms of Sockers win streak
MEXICAN NATIONAL TEAM BRINGS INDOOR VETERANS FOR EXHIBITIONS
The Mexican National Arena Soccer team will rely on a roster of indoor soccer veterans for a pair of exhibition games this weekend in Southern California.
The preliminary roster of 17 players chosen by coach Rene Ortiz features 10 players who have played in the Professional Arena Soccer League or Major Indoor Soccer League. The team is preparing for the World Mini-Football (WMF) World Cup, which will take place in the spring of 2015 at arenas across the United States, including the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif.
Mexico will be playing two games this weekend as part of a preseason tour of Major Arena Soccer League clubs in preparation for the World Cup. Saturday night, Mexico will take on the United States National Arena Soccer team at San Diego's Valley View Casino Center. Sunday, the Ontario Fury will face Mexico, while the United States team will take on the Las Vegas Legends.
Among the veteran players is Victor Quiroz, who has played for the Mexican National Futsal and Beach Soccer teams during his career, and has seven goals in six career games with the national arena soccer team. Quiroz has played in North American indoor leagues since 2008, and represented Mexico at the 2012 Futsal World Cup, scoring one goal. He is currently with the Milwaukee Wave.
The Mexican roster also features two players each from the Chicago Mustangs, Las Vegas Legends and San Diego Sockers, as well as three members from Toros Mexico, which is playing this season in the Premier Division.
Chicago's Miguel Vaca was sixth in the PASL in scoring in 2013-14, posting 35 goals and 19 assists in 16 regular season games for the league champion Mustangs. Joining him on the roster is teammate Jose Santillan. Big striker Ivan Campos of the Legends was added to the team for this weekend's games. He was seventh in the league last season for the Pacific Division champs. He is joined by teammate Bogar Moreno. The San Diego Sockers are represented by Eduardo Velez and Raymundo Reza.
Other players named to the roster are: Goalkeepers Lauro Munoz and Ramon Torres; defenders Jose Rodriguez (Toros Mexico) and Carlos Ramirez (Toros Mexico); midfielders Edgar Vazquez, Jair Aleman, Christian Gutierrez, Jose Avila (Toros Mexico) and Miguel Resendes; and forward Eduardo Flores.
Saturday night's action in San Diego will include a matchup between the Sockers and Toros Mexico squad before the United States-Mexico game. Sunday's action in Ontario will begin at 1 p.m. with the Las Vegas-United States game. Limited lower bowl tickets have been released for Sunday's games in Ontario.
Major Arena Soccer League Stories from October 16, 2014
- Team Kickoff Dinner Announced - Rochester Lancers
- U.S., Mexico Rosters Released for Exhibitions - Ontario Fury
- Blast Defender Healey Selected to United States Team - Baltimore Blast
- U.S., Mexican National Arena Soccer Team Rosters Announced - San Diego Sockers
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