Under-23 National Team Roster Named as Squad Prepares to Face Canada May 19 in Charleston, S.C.
CHICAGO (Thursday, May 13, 1999) - The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games are more than a year away, but there will be an Olympic feeling in the air on Wednesday, May 19, when the U.S. U-23 National Team faces their counterparts from Canada at 7 p.m. ET at Blackbaud Stadium. In preparation for the
May 13, 1999
"We're proud to bring this national team to Charleston and this great new soccer stadium," said Charles, referring to Blackbaud. "Obviously we have a long way to go before we can think about Sydney, but this match is an important measuring stick for us to determine where we are in our preparations."
Several of the top young American players, including budding MLS stars Josh Wolff (Chicago Fire), Brian West (Columbus Crew) and Joey DiGiamarino (Colorado Rapids) will be on hand for the international match at Blackbaud Stadium. Wolff, a former University of South Carolina All-American, has been particularly impressive in just his second season as a professional. The crafty forward recently netted the Chicago Fire's game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over D.C. United.
"It's been a long time coming, and I'm very glad to have [Wolff] back with the team," said Charles. "I imagine it will be exciting for him to return to South Carolina, where he was such a success in college."
Also named to the squad is European-based defender Evan Whitfield (KAA Gent / Belgium), a former Duke All-American, and forward Chris Albright (University of Virginia), who joins the U-23 squad after recently returning from Nigeria and the 1999 FIFA World Youth (U-20) Championship.
The USA-Canada match in Charleston, S.C., will be played at Blackbaud Stadium, the new 5,100-seat soccer-specific stadium constructed by A-League club Charleston Battery.
"We're very excited about welcoming the U.S. National Team to Charleston," said Buckley Andrews, General Manager for the Charleston Battery. "Blackbaud Stadium is a fantastic new soccer facility and a fitting place for the one of the premier youth national teams to compete."
The U.S. U-23 team is comprised of players eligible to represent the U.S. at Sydney 2000. The squad faced Canada twice in 1998; a scoreless draw on March 28 was followed by a resounding 3-0 U.S. victory in Beaverton, Ore., on March 30.
The U.S. U-23s have accumulated a record of 4-2-4 already this year heading into the match against Canada. Among the more promising victories for the U.S. was a 2-0 win over Germany on Feb. 8 in Jacksonville, Fla.
The United States will host the final round of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, which has been tentatively set for April 2000. Locations for these matches, which will see the top two teams from the region advancing to compete in Sydney, have not been selected.
To purchase tickets to the USA-Canada match on May 19 at Blackbaud Stadium, please call the Charleston Battery offices at 843-740-7787. Tickets for the event range from $6 - $10.
| U.S. MEN'S UNDER-23 NATIONAL TEAM | |||||||
| U.S. U-23 National Team vs. Canada U-23 National Team | |||||||
| May 19, 1999 Blackbaud Stadium Charleston, S.C. | |||||||
| No. | Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Birthdate | Hometown | Club / School |
| 15 | Albright, Chris | F | 6-1 | 185 | 1/14/79 | Philadelphia, Penn. | University of Virginia |
| 1 | Brown, Adin | GK | 6-4 | 200 | 5/27/78 | Pleasant Hill, Calif. | College of William & Mary |
| 4 | Chulis, Matt | D | 5-10 | 155 | 8/29/77 | Central Islip, N.Y. | Columbus Crew / MLS |
| 12 | Corrales, Ramiro | D | 6-1 | 170 | 3/12/77 | Salinas, Calif. | NY/NJ MetroStars / MLS |
| 7 | DiGiamarino, Joey | M | 5-11 | 160 | 4/6/77 | Corona, Calif. | Colorado Rapids / MLS |
| 2 | Dunseth, Brian | D | 6-0 | 170 | 3/2/77 | Upland, Calif. | New England Revolution / MLS |
| 9 | Moore, Jason | M | 5-10 | 170 | 4/4/78 | Lawrenceville, Ga. | DC United / MLS |
| 18 | Napoleon, Matt | GK | 6-0 | 175 | 8/18/77 | Feasterville, Penn. | Columbus Crew / MLS |
| 3 | Otero, Antonio | M | 5-11 | 165 | 5/20/77 | Tampa, Fla. | DC United / MLS |
| 6 | Parra, Carlos | M | 6-1 | 175 | 2/3/77 | West Haven, Conn. | Miami Fusion / MLS |
| 13 | Pries, Michael | M | 5-9 | 155 | 3/15/78 | Chatsworth, Calif. | Cal State Univ. - Northridge |
| 20 | Shak, Steve | M | 6-1 | 175 | 2/8/78 | Cerritos, Calif. | UCLA |
| 8 | Vagenas, Peter | M | 5-8 | 155 | 2/6/78 | Pasadena, Calif. | UCLA |
| 17 | West, Brian | F | 5-11 | 160 | 6/10/78 | Laurel, Md. | Columbus Crew / MLS |
| 5 | Whitfield, Evan | D | 5-11 | 160 | 6/23/77 | Glendale, Ariz. | KAA Gent / Belgium |
| 11 | Winters, Brian | M | 5-10 | 172 | 12/31/77 | Tacoma, Wash. | University of Portland |
| 16 | Wolff, Josh | F | 5-9 | 160 | 2/25/77 | Stone Mountain, Ga. | Chicago Fire / MLS |
| Team Staff | ||
| Head Coach: | Clive Charles | Portland, Ore. |
| Assistant Coach: | John Ellinger | Ellicott City, Md. |
| Goalkeeper Coach: | Peter Mellor | Palm Harbor, Fla. |
| Team Coordinator: | Craig Blazer | Chicago |
| Doctor: | Dr. Steve Smith | Silver Springs, Md. |
| Trainer: | Dave Andrews | Tacoma, Wash. |
| Trainer: | Michael Cantele | Gettysburg, Penn. |
| Equipment Manager: | Aaron Barrett | Chicago |
| Press Officer: | Brian Remedi | Chicago |
TEAM HOTEL:
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Monday, May 17: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Training @ Stoney Field
Tuesday, May 18: 10 - 11:30 a.m. Training @ Blackbaud Stadium
Wed., May 19: 7:00 p.m. USA vs. Canada @ Blackbaud Stadium
