CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014) – LA Galaxy II goalkeeper Eric Lopez was named to a 22-player roster for the U.S. Under-16 Boys’ National Team’s international camp from Nov. 13-21 in Clairefontaine, France, near Paris.
Lopez, 15, signed with LA Galaxy II on Monday, becoming the youngest-ever player to sign a contract in USL PRO. Lopez joined midfielder Jaime Villarreal as two LA Galaxy Academy players to sign professional contracts with Los Dos this year.
The U-16 BNT roster of mostly 1999-born players (19 of the 22) has been formed to provide the younger age group of U-17s with an opportunity for additional international competition and training. U.S. Soccer technical advisor and former U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team assistant coach Clint Peay will oversee the camp.
The USA will face France’s U-16s on Thursday, Nov. 20, in Clairefontaine. The U.S. is also potentially going to schedule another match against a French club team, with details to be announced at a later date.
The roster includes 18 current Development Academy players, with 21 of the 22 players on the roster having been a part of the Academy system.
Lopez and Monterrey forward Jonathan Gonzalez have also both been capped several times for the U.S. U-17 MNT. Lopez has two caps and a shutout victory (4-0 against Faroe Islands on July 31) in international competition for the U-17s, while Gonzalez has earned three caps and logged 184 minutes for the older age group.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Alex Budnik (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Westminster, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (8): Jose Alfaro Jr. (Fuerza Monarca; West Chicago, Ill.), Andrew Aprahamian (Philadelphia Union; Malvern, Pa.), Jordi Avila (Kendall SC; Hialeah Gardens, Fla.), McKay Eves (Real Salt Lake AZ; San Diego, Calif.), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City; Saddle River, N.J.), Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), Daniel Villegas (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Colo.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City; Sanford, Fla.), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Christopher Goslin (Georgia United; Locust Grove, Ga.), Nicholas Taitague (Richmond United; Midlothian, Va.), Juan Pablo Torres (Georgia United; Lilburn, Ga.)
FORWARDS (7): Andrew Carleton (Georgia United; Powder Springs, Ga.), Lucas Del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Jeanpaul Marin (New York Red Bulls; Rego Park, N.Y.), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State; South El Monte, Calif.), Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force; Livermore, Calif.), Hanif Wright (Unattached; Los Angeles, Calif.)
