CARSON, Calif. (Monday, April 20, 2015) – LA Galaxy forward Jose Villarreal and defender Oscar Sorto have been named to the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team 20-man roster by head coach Andi Herzog for a match against Mexico’s U-23’s this Wednesday, April 22 at StubHub Center, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. PT live on UniMas and Univision Deportes Network. The camp is the first domestic training camp of 2015 as the team continues its preparations for qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Both players will be available for selection for the Galaxy’s match at New York Red Bulls this Sunday, April 26.
Villarreal, 21, has represented the USMNT at various youth levels, including time with the U-23’s, U-20’s and U-18’s. The Galaxy Homegrown Player helped the U-20’s book a place in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup after scoring a team-leading five goals in seven games ahead of the tournament, earning him CONCACAF U-20 Championship All-Tournament honors. Villarreal has a goal and two assists in five appearances for the Galaxy this season.
Sorto, 20, earned his first U.S. Men’s National Team Call up earlier this year and has featured for various USMNT youth sides on the international level. His professional debut for the Galaxy came in the CONCACAF Champion’s League in 2013 when he was a substitute during a 3-0 win over Cartagines of Costa Rica. His MLS debut came last season in a 3-0 victory over Chivas USA at StubHub Center. In 2014, Sorto featured for the Galaxy’s USL PRO Team Galaxy II, starting in 23 regular season matches and leading the club to the USL PRO Semifinal during their inaugural season.
Tickets are available and can be purchased at ussoccer.com, by calling 1-888-929-7849, and at the StubHub Center ticket office (open Monday-Friday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Groups of 20 or more can obtain an order form at ussoccer.com or call 312-528-1290.
“It’s a beautiful stadium and this is a huge rivalry,” head coach Andi Herzog said. “We had this experience with the senior team last week and it was a great atmosphere. For these players, it’s a huge opportunity and we want to see them make the most of it.”
This roster is charged with experience as nine of its players were part of the USA’s 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup Team and 11 participated in the U.S. U-23 camp in Europe this past March.
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Cody Cropper (Southampton; Maple Grove, Minn.), Jon Kempin (San Antonio Scorpions; Leawood, Kan.)
DEFENDERS (8): Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps; East Palo Alto, Calif.), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Alebrijes de Oaxaca; Riverside, Calif.), Boyd Okwuonu (Real Salt Lake; Edmund, Okla.), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids; Boulder, Colo.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colo.), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif), Sam Strong (UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, Calif.), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas; Lawrenceville, Ga.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes; Northville, Mich.), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake; Garden Grove, Calif.), Alejandro Guido (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Benji Joya (Santos Laguna; San Jose, Calif.), Daniel Metzger (New York Red Bulls II; Holmdel, N.J.)
FORWARDS (5): Alonso Hernandez (C.F. Monterrey; El Paso, Texas), Alfred Koroma Shams (Unattached; Southlake Carol, Texas), Jordan Morris (Stanford; Mercer Island, Wash.), Mario Rodriguez (Borussia Mönchengladbach; North Hollywood, Calif.), Jose Villarreal (LA Galaxy; Inglewood, Calif.)
