U-17 stars leave residency for MLS; Four newcomers head to Bradenton

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Feb 3, 2017

By the time Christian Pulisic played for the USA at the 2015 U-17 World Cup, he had already left the Bradenton Residency to join Borussia Dortmund's youth program. Luca de la Torre had joined Fulham instead of going to residency. And a few other players had also left for Mexican and European clubs.

The current U.S. U-17 is also likely to include several non-residency players in its squad for qualifying play in April, and the World Cup in October in India if the USA qualifies.

When John Hackworth named the 32-player residency roster for the spring semester, it came with four changes. Two of the departures were prompted by pro contracts. Midfielders Chris Goslin and Chris Durkin leave residency after signing MLS Homegrown contracts with Atlanta United and D.C. United.

“Those two players are no longer in Residency because they are trying to make their first teams in preseason,” Hackworth said. “They play in MLS clubs, they're pros and they've made that next step in their career. We'll bring them back in with us for certain events and obviously try to include them in our qualifying roster, but right now, they are onto bigger and better things.”

Durkin started all three games at December’s Nike International Friendlies at which the USA beat Brazil (3-0), Turkey (5-1) and Portugal (7-1). The Virginia product, who has shared captain duties with Josh Sargent, explored options in Europe before becoming the first Homegrown signing in two and a half years for D.C. United, for whose academy who played five years Durkin signed the Homegrown contract last June and played for D.C. United in an Open Cup game in July and played three USL games with D.C. United affiliate Richmond Kickers.

Goslin signed a pro contract with Atlanta United in October. He and fellow U.S. U-17 Andrew Carleton were teammates on the U-16 Georgia United team that in the 2014-15 season was the only non-MLS club to reach the U.S. Soccer Development semifinals. Carleton, who scored twice against Turkey and Portugal at the Nike Friendlies, left Residency in the fall after signing with Atlanta United in May. He played three games for Atlanta United USL affiliate Charleston Battery.

When U.S. Soccer launched the latest cycle, it agreed that some players would be well off if they stayed with the MLS academy teams, such as the LA Galaxy’s Jake Arteaga and Kelee Cornfield-Saunders and the Philadelphia Union’s Rayshaun McGann. Forward Timothy Weah, who scored in the USA’s 3-0 win over Brazil and its 5-1 win over Turkey in December’s Nike International Friendlies, plays for Paris St. Germain.

The newcomers for spring semester residency are central defenders Ethan Bartlow (Crossfire Premier) and Tyler Shaver (Beachside SC), midfielder Grayson Barber (Sporting Kansas City), and goalkeeper David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake AZ).

“These were strategic additions based on what we felt we needed on the depth chart at each position,” Coach John Hackworth said. “They’ve earned that invite through their performances in the Development Academy and their opportunities with us last fall. We’re excited to have them and see if they can push for a spot on that qualifying roster.”

The Concacaf U-17 Championship that determines qualifiers for the 2017 U-17 World Cup takes place in Panama April 14-May 8 in Panama.

U.S. U-17 Spring Semester Residency
GOALKEEPERS (4): Alexander Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Justin Garces (Kendall SC; Miami, Fla.), Quantrell Jones (Baltimore Celtic; Baltimore, Md.), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.).
DEFENDERS (11): Carlos Asensio (Atlanta United; Roswell, Ga.), Ethan Bartlow (Crossfire Premier; Woodinville, Wash.), Christopher Gloster (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting Kansas City; Charlotte, N.C.), Carlo Ritaccio (BW Gottschee; Westbury, N.Y.), James Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Tyler Shaver (Beachside SC; Greenwich, Conn.), Nicholas Slonina (Chicago Fire; Addison, Ill.), Arturo Vasquez (FC Golden State; Mira Loma, Calif.), Chandler Vaughn (D.C. United; Woodbridge, Va.), Tristan Weber (Unattached; San Clemente, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (9): George Acosta (Weston FC; Hollywood, Fla.), Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.), Grayson Barber (Sporting Kansas City; Blythewood, S.C.), Taylor Booth (Real Salt Lake AZ; Eden, Utah), Blaine Ferri (Solar Chelsea SC; Southlake, Texas), Marcelo Palomino (Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Indiana Vassilev (IMG Academy; Savannah, Ga.), Adrian Villegas (Portland Timbers; Hood River, Ore.), Akil Watts (IMG Academy; Fort Wayne, Ind.).
FORWARDS (8): Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC; Brampton, Ont.), Matthew Hundley (Real Colorado; Littleton, Colo.), Zyen Jones (Atlanta United; Clarkston, Ga.), Alejandro Pereira (Orlando City SC; Oviedo, Fla.), Bryan Reynolds Jr. (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Texas), William Sands (New York City FC; Rye, N.Y.), Joshua Sargent (Scott Gallagher Missouri; O’Fallen, Mo.), Tonny Temple (IMG Academy; Millville, Pa.).

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