USLÂ’s US Call-Ups Headed Home
January 22, 2005 - USL First Division (USL-1) News Release
TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues players from the USL First Division and USL Second Division are headed home Saturday following the end of the labor dispute between US Soccer and the US Men’s National Team Players Association Friday evening.
With the US regulars being called into camp for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago February 9, the 22 USL players called into camp a week ago by Head Coach Bruce Arena are being sent back to their clubs.
“We are extremely proud of the players who represented United Soccer Leagues very well over the past week in Carson,” said USL Vice President Tim Holt. “It would have been wonderful to see them play in the qualifier, but we are happy to hear that the regulars will be in camp soon preparing to qualify for the World Cup.”
Among those who highlighted the training camp roster was two-time USL First Division Goalkeeper of the Year Dusty Hudock, who was recently signed by the Rochester Raging Rhinos after six successful seasons with the Charleston Battery. USL First Division 2003 Assist Leader and 2000 Co-Goal Scoring Champion Greg Howes was joined by Michael Burke as former USL First Division Rookies of the Year while Ryan Trout was Premier Development League Rookie of the Year in 2000.
The USL Second DivisionÂ’s outstanding scoring tandem from 2004, Jacob Coggins and Dustin Swinehart of the Charlotte Eagles were also on the roster. Coggins was the league MVP and Scoring Champion and Swinehart, who played on loan with the Richmond Kickers several times during the 2004 season as well, finished tied for the league lead in assists with Coggins. Both were members of the club while it played in the USL First Division from 2001-2003.
For eight players, it would not have been their first time in US colors had they played in the qualifier. Burke, Coggins, Hudock, Swinehart, John Wilson, Kevin Knight, Justin Evans and Alan Woods had played for the US Representative XI in a home-and-away series against the England National Game XI. Burke and Swinehart played in both games, joining Knight in the first one in England in March of 2002 and the others in June of last year.
Fifteen of the players had been named to USL All-Leagues Teams over their careers. Five of the players were members of the USL First DivisionÂ’s All-League Teams in 2004. Dustin Branan and Peter Luzak were on the First Team while Joe Warren, Justin Evans and Howes were on the Second. Swinehart and Coggins were on the USL Second DivisionÂ’s First Team. Howes has been honored as an All-League player three times. Others previously honored are Burke, Hudock, Knight, Preston Burpo, Steve Shak, John Wilson, John Ball and Alan Woods.
• Discuss this story on the USL First Division message board...
USL First Division Stories from January 22, 2005
- USLÂ’s US Call-Ups Headed Home - USL-1
- USLÂ’s US Call-Ups Headed Home - USL-1
- Silverbacks take two in USL First Division draft - Atlanta Silverbacks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
