Fifteen MLS players and academy products were represented in new US Under-18 men’s national team head coach Javier Perez's 35-man roster for the team's upcoming training camp, US Soccer announced on Friday.
Philadelphia Union youngster Zach Pfeffer (above) is the standout inclusion, as the attacking midfielder has already made several first-team appearances in MLS.
No fewer than 12 MLS teams are represented and Real Salt Lake, Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, New York Red Bulls and Philadelphia Union all contribute two players each to the squad.
Five players are currently plying their trade outside of the US, with Ethan Horvath and Kristian Scott both members of Stoke City in England. Matt Dunn and Mobi Fehr play in Europe with OFK Belgrade and Basel, respectively, while Esteban Rodriguez is part of the squad at Club Tijuana in Mexico.
Each player is age eligible for the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup, with nine players born in 1994 and the rest born in 1995.
Perez's camp will convene on Sunday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and will run until April 1.
FULL US UNDER-18 TRAINING CAMP ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (4): Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls), Ethan Horvath (Stoke City, England), Zackary Steffen (Philadelphia Union) Jacole Turner (Sporting KC)
DEFENDERS (11): Miguel Alves (PDA), Robert Amick (De Anza Force), Suliaman Dainkeh (D.C. United), Mobi Fehr (FC Basel, Switzerland), Dylan Greenberg (Albertson SC), Trevor Haberkorn (Solar Chelsea SC), Matthew Habrowski (Derby County Wolves), Malcolm Harris (Baltimore Bays Chelsea), Jalen Markey (Seattle Sounders FC), Jose Ocampo (CrossFire Premier), Miguel Polley (Albertson SC)
MIDFIELDERS (11): Marco Delgado (Chivas USA), Matt Dunn (OFK Belgrade, Serbia), Alejandro Guido (Unattached), Romilio Hernandez (Baltimore Bays Chelsea), Koty Millard (SC United Battery), Antonio
Murillo (Downtown Las Vegas Rapids), Adam Najem (New York Red Bulls), William Raygoza (LA Galaxy), Kristian Scott (Stoke City, England), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Stefanos Stemoulacatos (Empire)
FORWARDS (9): Jordan Allen (RSL Arizona), Paul Arriola (Arsenal FC), Cristian Cruz (San Jose Earthquakes), Benjamin Lopez (RSL Arizona), Andrew Oliver (Chicago Fire), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union), Esteban Rodriguez (Club Tijuana, Mexico), Ben Spencer Jr. (Chivas USA), Jaime Villarreal (LA Galaxy)
