CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014) – Five LA Galaxy Academy players were named to a 36-player roster for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team’s training camp from Oct. 23-31 by head coach Javier Perez, U.S. Soccer and LA Galaxy announced today. Goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon, defender Elan Koenig, defender Michael Lopez, and forwards Robert Knights and Adrian Vera will join camp at U.S. Soccer’s national Training Center at StubHub Center.
LA Galaxy Academy leads all Development Academy clubs with five players selected.
The nine-day camp will include an intrasquad match on Sunday, Oct. 26, and the U-18s also are potentially going to play a local club team during this stretch.
Among this roster, 35 of the 36 players are currently registered with Development Academy clubs, and everyone has a tie-in with an Academy club. LA Galaxy Academy goalkeeper Bennett Sneddon, defender Michael Lopez and forward Adrian Vera played the full 90 minutes during the LA Galaxy U-15/16 Academy team’s 2-0 win against Real Salt Lake AZ in its national title game on July 19.
Five players have youth ties with the LA Galaxy, and four with Real Salt Lake AZ and Chicago Magic PSG.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (4): Konrad Dziedzic (Chicago Magic PSG; Schiller Park, Ill.), Etan Marbourakh (Weston FC; Plantation, Fla.), Bennett Sneddon (LA Galaxy; Encino, Calif.), Mason Stajduhar (Orlando City SC; Lithia, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (11): Gavin Barger (Baltimore Celtic SC; Fallston, Md.), Nigel Blackwood (Georgia United; Marietta, Ga.), Sean Dedrick (BSC CT; Wilton, Conn.), Nicholas Hinds (Kendall SC; Plantation, Fla.), Elan Koenig (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Andrew Lombard (New York Red Bulls; Montclair, N.J.), Michael Lopez (LA Galaxy; Cypress, Calif.), Donald Mason (CASL; Raleigh, N.C.), Diego Silva (Real Salt Lake AZ; Layton, Utah), Alex Vigliotti (Oakwood SC; Branford, Conn.), Aidan Wixted (Orlando City SC; Melbourne, Fla.)
MIDFIELDERS (12): Danilo Acosta (Real Salt Lake AZ; Sandy, Utah), Amir Bashti (San Jose Earthquakes; Cupertino, Calif.), Michael Boakye (Oakwood Soccer Club; East Hartford, Conn.), Juan Gamino Jr. (Kendall SC; Homestead, Fla.), Jeremiah Gutjahr (Indiana Fire; Bloomington, Ind.), Jack Miler (Minnesota Thunder; Lakeville, Minn.), James Murphy (PDA; Scotch Plains, N.J.), Stephen Payne (Chicago Magic PSG; Birmingham, Ala.), Jesus Perez Jr. (Chicago Magic PSG; Waukegan, Ill.), Grzegorz Solawa (Chicago Magic PSG; Niles, Ill.), Evan Waldrep (Real Salt Lake AZ; Peoria, Ariz.), Eryk Williamson (D.C. United; Alexandria, Va.)
FORWARDS (9): Aaron Hererra (Real Salt Lake AZ; Las Cruces, N.M.), Robert Knights (LA Galaxy; Bristol, England), Lucas Mendes (D.C. United; Washington, D.C.), Nebojsa Popovic (Vardar SC; Loznica, Serbia), Christian Ramirez (FC Dallas; Farmers Branch, Texas), DJ Reeves (D.C. United; Ashton, Md.), Juan Sanchez (New York Red Bulls; Ossining, N.Y.), Ryan Sierakowski (Chicago Fire; McHenry, Ill.), Adrian Vera (LA Galaxy; Norwalk, Calif.)
