Rongen names 20 player roster for under-20 men's training camp

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach Thomas Rongen has named 20 players to a domestic training camp in Sarasota, Fla., from May 23-28, in conjunction with the Development Academy Spring Showcase. The U.S. will play two friendly matches against Costa Rica on May 25 and May 27.

The two international friendlies mark a rematch of the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship final, when Costa Rica topped the U.S. 3-0 in Macoya, Trinidad. In Sarasota, Rongen will have 14 players that reached that final and also qualified to the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

The team will also play an intrasquad scrimmage on May 24, when Rongen will add six players from the Development Academy Showcase to his contingent and Academy coaches will be invited to attend the scrimmage as well as a coaching session with Rongen before and after the training.

Nine players on the roster represent Major League Soccer including five from FC Dallas in Kyle Davies, who recently returned stateside after two years in England, Josh Lambo, Peri Marosevic, Brek Shea and Anthony Wallace. Chivas USA sends the duo of Jorge Flores and Gerson Mayen, who is currently tied for the MLS lead in assists on the season, while the Houston Dynamo will be represented by Danny Cruz and Toronto FC by Fuad Ibrahim in Sarasota. A trio of foreign-based players on the roster includes Jared Jeffrey from Club Brugge (Belgium), Alfredo Morales of Hertha Berlin (Germany) and Jose Gonzalez from Atlante (Mexico).

Rongen’s top-choice goalkeeper, Brian Perk, leads the collegiate contingent. He is joined by defenders Aaron Maund and Ike Opara, midfielders Dilly Duka and Brian Ownby and forward Tony Taylor. Sheanon Williams is currently unattached to a professional club or college while Guillermo Torres, brother of U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder José Francísco Torres, is the only player on the roster still in high school.

The U.S. is preparing for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which will take place in Egypt from Sept. 24-Oct.16. The U.S. was drawn into Group C alongside Germany, Cameroon and Korea Republic and will be looking to advance to the knock-out stage for the sixth-consecutive time.
 

Roster By Position (Club; Hometown):
GOALKEEPERS (2): Josh Lambo (FC Dallas; Middleton, Wis.), Brian Perk (UCLA; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Kyle Davies (FC Dallas; Danville, Calif.), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA; Anaheim, Calif.), Aaron Maund (Notre Dame; Dorchester, Mass.), Ike Opara (Wake Forest; Durham, N.C.), Anthony Wallace (FC Dallas; St. Petersburg, Fla.), Sheanon Williams (unattached; Boston, Mass.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo; Glendale, Ariz.), Dilly Duka (Rutgers; Montville, N.J.), Jose Gonzalez (Atlante FC; Soquel, Calif.), Jared Jeffrey (Club Brugge; Richardson, Texas), Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Alfredo Morales (Hertha BSC Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Brian Ownby (Virginia; Glen Allen, Va.), Brek Shea (FC Dallas; College Station, Texas), Guillermo Torres (Longview Lobos HS; Longview, Texas)
FORWARDS (3): Fuad Ibrahim (Toronto FC; Richfield, Minn.), Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas; Rockford, Ill.) Tony Taylor (Jacksonville University; Jacksonville, Fla.)