CHICAGO (January 15, 2008) – U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team head coach Bob Jenkins announced his list of 72 players invited in for the mega-camp from January 17-24 at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. All of the players were born on or after Jan. 1, 1990.

Jenkins and 10 assistant coaches will instruct and evaluate the players during the week-long camp and evaluate them for the next cycle of Under-20s.

Players on this roster will be the core age-group for the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt with Under-20 head coach Thomas Rongen. Rongen will take as many as five players from the mega-camp with the Under-20 squad that will travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, for the Copa Chivas tournament from Jan. 24-Feb. 3.

“If you look at our player pool from our last U-18 group, it was about 70 players, so what we’re trying to do this year is get an early look at a large portion of our player pool,” said Jenkins. “The best environment to evaluate players is when the best players are with the best players. This camp will give us a good handle on which players we will continue to have in later camps.”

Along with training during the week, the U-18s will play a handful of scrimmages against each other and possibly the U-17 MNT, U-20 MNT or club teams in the area.

The ultimate goal of the U-18 program is to provide these players with the opportunity to continue to grow and improve, so they have the ability to make the jump to the U-20s, the U-23s and ultimately the full Men’s National Team. During their time with the U-18s, the players are immersed in top-level training and games against some of the best club and national teams around the world to help them reach those goals.

Out of the 72 players invited into the camp, 43 are from clubs that are a part of U.S. Soccer’s Development Academy Program. A total of 20 Development Academy teams are represented.

“Continuing player development is still the most important aspect at this level,” said Jenkins. “I’m sure there are a large number of talented players in this group. I have no doubt over the next few years they will continue to progress through the national team programs.”

With a three-year gap between the U-17 and the U-20 Men’s National Team, the U-18 MNT aids in the transition for younger players born in the odd-numbered years. The players on the U-18s are predominantly those who fall in that age gap where they were too old for the U-17s, but yet still too young to have an immediate impact with the U-20s.

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Birth Date	Hometown	Club
Agbossoumonde, Gale	D	6-2	185	11/17/91	Syracuse, N.Y.	IMG Soccer Academy
Ahkeel, Rodney	F	5-11	180	04/18/91	Elmont N.Y.	BW Gottschee
Akinsanya, Adedoja	F/M	5-10	156	04/25/91	Sacramento, Calif.	Boca Junior
Alleyne, Kwese	M	6-1	160	03/12/92	Miramar, Fla.	Schultz Academy
Altimarino, Jose	F/M	5-4	125	07/17/91	San Diego, Calif.	Del Mar Sharks
Anderson, Colin	D	5-8	150	01/28/91	Tucson, Ariz.	Arizona Rush
Aguirre, Jon	M	5-11	175	01/15/92	Madison, N.J.	PDA
Arreola, Eder	F/M	5-6	135	11/13/91	Chino Hills, Calif.	FC Barcelona
Barson, Chad	D	5-9	160	02/25/91	Lewis Center, Ohio	Crew Juniors
Bates, Will	F	6-0	175	04/01/91	Chester, Va.	Richmond Strikers
Bibbs, Nick	D	5-10	155	01/31/91	Ardmore, Pa.	Spirit United
Birnbaum, Steven	D	6-2	165	01/23/91	Irvine, Calif.	Pateadores
Bowen, Tristan	F	5-11	165	01/30/91	Van Nuys, Calif.	N/A
Brown, Jonathan	F	5-10	150	12/07/92	Clinton, Miss.	Central Jackson
Cadwell, Scott	M	5-6	125	03/15/91	Braintree, Mass.	United Blazers
Chavez, John	F	5-8	160	04/07/92	Tulsa, Okla.	Tulsa Thunder
Cruz, Pablo	M	5-4	110	12/30/91	Azusa, Calif.	Pateadores
Dacres, Kadeem	M	5-9	150	08/25/91	Rosedale, N.Y.	NY Hota
Del Piccolo, Paolo	D	6-0	160	05/28/91	Lakewood, Colo.	Colorado Rush
Diaz, Jose	D	5-8	140	01/25/91	Fontana, Calif.	Chivas USA
Diaz, Rafael	GK	5-11	155	10/08/91	Rockaway, N.J.	PDA
Dodson, Jason	GK	6-1	200	04/29/91	Lake Oswego, Ore.	Eastside United
Dominguez, Brian	M	5-4	145	03/07/91	Atlanta, Ga.	Concorde Fire
Finley, Ryan	F	6-0	170	03/27/91	Lumberton, N.J.	Rancocas Valley
Garcia, Kevin	D	6-2	181	08/21/90	Flushing, N.Y.	BW Gottschee
Gatt, Josh	F/M	5-9	140	08/29/91	Plymouth, Mich.	Michigan Wolves
Gonzalez, Eddie	M	6-0	142	11/20/91	Thousand Oaks, Calif.	Real So Cal
Jahn, Adam	F/M	6-2	195	01/05/91	El Macero, Calif.	Davis Legacy Gunners
Landeros, Jesus	M	5-7	145	01/18/91	Oxnard, Calif.	FC Barcelona
Langholz, Preston	GK	6-3	180	06/04/92	Tulsa, Okla.	Tulsa Thunder
Long, Alex	GK	6-2	190	08/22/01	Cary, N.C.	CASL
Lubahn, Andrerw	F	5-11	160	09/10/91	Erie, Pa.	Erie Admirals/ Friedel Academy
MacMath, Zac	GK	6-1	170	08/07/91	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Clearwater Chargers
Martinez, Eric	D	6-2	160	05/02/91	Fort Mill, S.C.	Charlotte Soccer Club
Matchett, Patrick	D	6-1	170	03/03/92	Laguna Niguel, Calif.	Irvine Strikers
Millington, Nic	D	5-7	140	08/09/91	Raleigh, N.C.	CASL
Mizell, Cody	GK	6-0	178	09/30/91	Woodstock, Ga.	GSA Pheonix Red
Nealis, James	M/D	6-0	155	08/05/91	Massapequa, N.Y.	Massapequa
Okugo, Amobi	M	5-11	165	03/13/91	Sacramento, Calif.	San Juan Lightning Crew
Ortega, Christopher	M	5-11	145	02/05/91	Chula Vista, Calif.	Arsenal F.C.
Pais, Mark	GK	6-3	190	06/03/91	Frontenac, Mo.	Scott Gallagher
Perry, Aubrey	D	5-9	150	01/20/91	Ocoee, Fla.	Ajax America
Petrick, Tanner	M	5-6	145	08/31/90	Carolton, Tex.	Dallas Texans
Petts, Harrison	M	5-10	155	10/25/91	Zionsville, Ind.	Carmel United
Portillos, Zach	F/M	5-10	135	01/19/92	Aurora, Colo.	Real Colorado
Quevedo, Christian	F/M	5-8	140	09/06/90	Smithtown, N.Y.	Smithtown Gunners
Quintana, Andrew	D	5-6	145	05/24/91	Miami, Fla.	Kendall Soccer
Ramos, Christian	M	5-7	130	05/07/91	Miami, Fla.	Kendall Soccer
Roman, Mike	M	5-10	140	03/29/91	Oxnard, Calif.	Real So Cal
Rowe, Kelyn	F/M	5-8	140	12/02/91	Federal Way, Wash.	Crossfire Premiere Academy
Ryan, Nicholas	M	5-8	130	01/30/91	San Jose, Calif.	Central Valley United
Salciccia, Anthony	M	5-6	140	01/19/91	San Jose, Calif.	Ruckus
Sanchez, Jossimar	D/M	5-9	160	09/04/91	Patterson, N.J.	PDA
Sarabia, David	GK	6-2	160	02/13/91	Miami, Fla.	Kendall Soccer
Sarkodie, Kofi	D	5-7	155	03/22/91	Huber Heights, Ohio	Ohio FC Mutiny
Savage, Anderson	D	5-10	160	04/05/91	Eagle, Idaho	Boise Capitals
Seballos, Steve	M	5-9	135	01/21/91	Miami, Fla.	Coral Springs
Sinclair, Hasani	F	6-1	170	02/05/91	Coral Springs, Fla.	Coral Springs/ Shultz Academy
Smith, Chris	D	5-7	140	04/09/91	Chula Vista, Calif.	Arsenal
Snyder, Cody	M/F	5-7	135	06/04/92	Pasco, Wash.	Crossfire Premiere Academy
Speas, Ben	F	5-7	155	01/17/91	Stow, Ohio	Everest FC
Sundly, Alec	M/F	5-10	125	07/08/92	Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.	Irvine Strikers
Tamayo, Jose	M	5-11	160	08/31/91	La Puente, Calif	Irvine Strikers
Torres, Paul	M	5-9	135	10/22/91	Bethesda, Md.	DC United
Valentin, Zarek	D	5-9	145	08/06/91	Lancaster, Pa.	IMG Soccer Academy
Veeder, Kory	M	5-11	150	10/03/91	St. Petersburg, Fla.	Clearwater Chargers
Walsh, Parker	M/D	5-9	160	10/30/91	Roanoke, Va.	Roanoke Star
White, Norris	D	6-1	175	01/01/91	Kensington, Md.	DC United
Yepez, Raul	M	5-5	120	09/14/91	Oxnard, Calif.	OYSA Waves
Yin, Nick	D	6-0	150	02/03/92	Bethesda, Md.	DC United
Zamora, Cesar	M	5-11	150	05/27/91	Sylmar, Calif.	Chivas USA

Under-18 National Team Staff

Head Coach:	Bob Jenkins	Peru, Vt.
Assistant Coach:	Eric Yamamoto	Santa Clara, Calif.
Assistant Coach:	Charlie Inverso	Robbinsville, N.J.
Assistant Coach:	Cam Rast	San Jose, Calif.
Assistant Coach:	Alfonso Mondelo	Franklin Square, N.Y.
Assistant Coach:	George Gelnovatch	Earlysville, Va.
Assistant Coach:	Gerry McKeown	Summit, N.J.
Assistant Coach:	Eric Dade	Birmingham, Ala.
Assistant Coach:	Alberto Bru	North Hollywood, Calif.
Assistant Coach:	Victor Pastora	Miami, Fla.
Assistant Coach:	Jeff Baicher	Campbell, Calif.
Team Coordinator:	Jon Fleishman	Pittsburgh, Pa.
Team Coordinator:	Rachel Grushkin	Eugene, Ore.
Team Coordinator:	Laurel O'Neal	Atlanta, Ga.
Athletic Trainer:	Matt Zalewski	Homewood, Ill.
Athletic Trainer:	Ryan Nachit	St. Petersburg, Fla.
Equipment Coordinator:	Thomas Staevski	Carson, Calif.
Equipment Coordinator:	Ryan Sutton	Kansas City, Mo.
Equipment Coordinator:	Joe Dessert	Kansas City, Mo.
Equipment Coordinator:	Rigoberto Cuevas	Sacramento, Calif.
Equipment Coordinator:	Paul Tate	Austin, Tex.

Under-18 Men’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS: Rafael Diaz (Rockaway, N.J.), Jason Dodson (Lake Oswego, Ore.), Preston Langholz (Tulsa, Okla.), Alex Long (Cary, N.C.), Zac MacMath (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Cody Mizell (Woodstock, Ga.), Marc Pais (Frontenac, Mo.), David Sarabia (Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS: Gale Agbossoumonde (Syracuse, N.Y.), Colin Anderson (Tucson, Ariz.), Chad Barson (Lewis Center, Ohio), Nick Bibbs (Ardmore, Pa.), Steven Birnbaum (Irvine, Calif.), Paolo Del Piccolo (Lakewood, Colo.), Jose Diaz (Fontana, Calif.), Kevin Garcia (Flushing, N.Y.), Eric Martinez (Fort Mill, S.C.), Patrick Matchett (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), Nick Millington (Raleigh, N.C.), Aubrey Perry (Ocoee, Fla.), Andrew Quintana (Miami, Fla.), Jossimar Sanchez (Patterson, N.J.), Kofi Sarkodie (Huber Heights, Ohio), Andrew Savage (Eagle, Idaho), Chris Smith (Chula Vista, Calif.), Zarek Valentin (Lancaster, Pa.), Norris White (Kensington, Md.), Nick Yin (Bethesda, Md.)
MIDFIELDERS: Kwese Alleyne (Miramar, Fla.), Jon Aguirre (Madison, N.J.), John Brown (Clinton, Miss.), Scott Caldwell (Braintree, Mass.), Pablo Cruz (Azusa, Calif.), Kareem Dacres (Rosedale, N.Y.), Brian Dominguez (Atlanta, Ga.), Eddie Gonzales (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), Jesus Landeros (Oxnard, Calif.), James Nealis (Massapequa, N.Y,), Amobi Okugo (Sacramento, Calif.), Christopher Ortega (Chula Vista, Calif.), Tanner Petrick (Carolton, Tex.), Harrison Petts (Zionsville, Ind.), Christian Ramos (Miami, Fla.), Mike Roman (Oxnard, Calif.), Nicholas Ryan (San Jose, Calif.), Anthony Salciccia (San Jose, Calif.), Steve Saballos (Miami, Fla.), Cody Snyder (Pasco, Wash.), Alec Sundly (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Jose Tamayo (La Puente, Calif.), Paul Torres (Bethesda, Md.), Korey Veeder (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Parker Walsh (Roanoke, Va.), Raul Yepez (Oxnard, Calif.), Cesar Zamora (Sylmar, Calif.)
FORWARDS: Dersu Abolfathi (Irvine, Calif.), Rodney Ahkeel (Elmont, N.Y.), Akinsanya Adedoja (Sacramento, Calif.), Jose Altimarino (San Diego, Calif.), Eder Arreola (Chino Hills, Calif.), Will Bates (Chester, Va.), Tristan Bowen (Van Nuys, Calif.), John Chavez (Tulsa, Okla.), Ryan Finley (Lumberton, N.J.), Josh Gatt (Plymouth, Mich.), Adam Jahn (El Macero, Calif.), Andrew Lubahn (Erie, Pa.), Zach Portillos (Aurora, Colo.), Christian Quevedo (Smithtown, N.Y.), Kelyn Rowe (Federal Way, Wash.), Hasani Sinclair (Coral Springs, Fla.), Ben Speas (Stow, Ohio)