Youth: U.S. U-17 boys to face Costa Rica and Mexico
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Jul 31, 2018
Four players are newcomers to the U-17 player pool: Sagir David Arce (Monarcas Moreila/Mexico), Jahlane Forbes (Orlando City SC academy), Tyler Freeman (Sporting Kansas City academy) and Antino Lopez (Shattuck-Saint Mary's).
“Being able to travel to Central America and play two of the best teams in Concacaf gives our players and staff the opportunity to evaluate exactly where we are at in this point of the cycle,” Hackworth said. “In addition, we continue to grow the 2002/2003 pool by selecting a few players that will represent the U.S. U-17 men’s national team for the first time.
“As we move closer to World Cup qualifying, this experience is invaluable as it is impossible to replicate what playing opponents like Mexico and Costa Rica in Central America is really like until you actually do it. The lessons these young men will learn on this trip will help them tremendously as they continue to develop.”
• Hackworth’s U-17s are more than halfway through a two-year cycle that is focused on qualifying for the 2019 U-17 World Cup.
• All players on the roster except for 2003-born Freeman were born in 2002. Players born in 2002 or later are eligible for the 2019 U-17 World Cup.
U.S. U-17 boys national team
GOALKEEPERS (2): Damian Las (Chicago Fire
academy; Chicago, Ill.), Chituru Odunze (Vancouver Whitecaps academy; Calgary Alberta).
DEFENDERS (9): Axel Alejandre (FC United academy; Chicago, Ill.), Michael Barragan
(Atlas/Mex.; Guadalajara, Mexico), Jahlane Forbes (Orlando City academy; Clermont, Fla.), Tayvon Gray (New York City FC academy; Bronx, N.Y.), Kobe Hernandez (LA Galaxy academy; Los Angeles, Calif.),
Mason Judge (Chargers Soccer Club, Tampa, Fla.), Antino Lopez (Shattuck-Saint Mary's; Las Vegas, Nev.), Joseph Scally (New York City FC; Lake Grove, N.Y.), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls academy;
Chatham, N.J.).
MIDFIELDERS (5): Luis Flores (Shattuck-Saint Mary's; Half Moon Bay, Calif.), Gilbert Fuentes (San Jose Earthquakes; Tracy, Calif.), Giovanni Reyna (New York
City FC academy; Bedford Corners, N.Y.), Adam Saldana (LA Galaxy academy; Panorama City, Calif.), Peter Stroud (West Ham academy/ENG; Chester, N.J.).
FORWARDS (7): Sagir David
Arce (Monarcas Moreila academy; Chihuahua, Mexico), Tyler Freeman (Sporting Kansas City; Shawnee, Kan.), Andres Jasson (New York City FC academy; Greenwich, Conn.), Diego Lopez (Atlanta United II;
Chino, Calif.), Alfonso Ocampo Chavez (Seattle Sounders II; Fresno, Calif.), Benjamin Redzic (FC Dallas academy; Carrollton, Texas), Ray Serrano (Seattle Sounders II; Graham, Wash.).
