U.S. Paralympic Team Convenes for February Camp in Chula Vista, Calif.

The U.S. Paralympic Soccer team convened today for a week-long training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

CHICAGO (Feb. 19, 2012) – The U.S. Paralympic Soccer team convened today for a week-long training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The team will be in Chula Vista, Calif., from today until Feb. 26.

Head coach Jay Hoffman selected 15 players for the February camp, including midfielder Josh McKinney, who scored five goals for the U.S. in the 2011 CPIRSA 7-a-side World Championship in the Netherlands.

The U.S. Paralympic National Team qualified for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London by virtue of finishing in the top seven at that tournament.

Paralympic soccer is played seven-a-side on a smaller field and with smaller goals than non-disabled soccer. Each team plays with seven men using the International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA) rules which have been slightly modified to accommodate the disabilities of the athletes.

To be eligible for Paralympic soccer, athletes must be ambulatory and have a diagnosis of non-progressive brain damage that is associated with motor control dysfunction such as Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury or stroke. More information about eligibility and the classification of athletes is available at the CPISRA website.

Detailed Roster:
Player                                   Pos.       Birth Date                            Hometown
Ahrens, Chris (7)              D             Jan 31, 1984                        Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Bennett, Tyler (7)            M            June 27, 1992                     Wadsworth, Ohio
Blue, Josh (6)                     F              Nov. 26, 1978                     Denver, Colo.
Brown, Dylan (6)              F              May 15, 1992                      Clovis, Calif.
Boarman, Bryce (7)         D             Sept. 29, 1990                    Colorado Springs, Colo.     
Creasey, Nick (7)              M            Jan. 9, 1991                         Richmond, Va.
Hilaire, James (7)              F/GK      Dec. 30, 1983                      Samford, Conn.
Howard, Charlie (7)         F              June 16, 1995                     Washington, D.C.
Johnson, Keith (7)           GK          July 2, 1980                         Houston, Texas
Latsch, Tommy (7)           M            Jan. 7, 1985                         Euclid, Ohio
Matsey, Sean (7)              D             April 26, 1989                     Pittsburgh, Pa.
McKinney, Josh (7)          M            Jan. 18, 1979                       Cary, N.C.
Morales, Moises (7)        M            Aug. 27, 1993                     San Diego, Calif.
Sibayan, Gavin (6 or7)    D             Jan. 3, 1981                         Colorado Springs, Colo.
Wade, Jerreme (7)          M            Nov. 14, 1990                     Chesapeake, Va. 

Staff:
Head Coach:                 Jay Hoffman                                 Virginia Beach, Va.
Assistant Coach:           Dave Dengerink                             Houston, Texas
Trainer:                       Natalie Akula                                 Boston, Mass. 
Team Manager:            Dana Schoenwetter                        San Diego, Calif.
Equipmentt Manager:   Chuck LeGrant                               Danville, Ill.