[U.S. YOUTH NATIONAL TEAMS] New U.S. under-18 men's national team coach Mike Matkovich is taking 18 players to Sydney, Australia, where they will compete in the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

The trip, the U-18s' first under Matkovich, follows a 72-player MegaCamp that concluded Sunday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The U-18s will face Chile, China and Australia in games played Jan. 15-18 at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, a biennial event that will feature athletes from 23 countries participating in 21 different sports.

The squad includes Soccer America All-Freshman goalie Zac MacMath and academy players from MLS clubs Columbus, FC Dallas and New England.

U-18 ROSTER:
GOALKEEPERS: Alex Long (CASL Chelsea FC), Zac MacMath (Univ. of Maryland).
DEFENDERS: Gale Agbossoumonde (IMG Academy), Chad Barson (Columbus Crew Juniors), Nick Millington (Wake Forest Univ.), Jossimar Sanchez (PDA), Kofi Sarkodie (Akron), Zarek Valentin (PA Classics), London Woodberry (FC Dallas Juniors).
MIDFIELDERS: Jose Altamirano (Del Mar Sharks), Miles Bypass (Arsenal FC), Scott Caldwell (New England Revolution Academy), Amobi Okugo (San Juan Lightning), Scott Prozeller (FC Greater Boston Bolts).
FORWARDS: Will Bates (Richmond Strikers), Adam Jahn (San Juan Lightning), Dillon Powers (Andromeda), Hasani Sinclair (Schulz Academy).