Major League Soccer is well represented in the squad called up on Wednesday to US Under-18 national team camp.
Of the 24 names summoned by head coach Javier Perez, 15 are products of MLS academies, including three Homegrown players on first-team rosters: Kellyn Acosta of FC Dallas (above, left), Marky Delgado of Chivas USA and Zach Pfeffer of the Philadelphia Union.
The New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake AZ each send three players to Carson, Calif., tied for the best representation among MLS academies. All told, 21 of the 24 players come from clubs underneath the USSF Development Academy umbrella.
“This is the last camp of the year and it gives us the opportunity to see a few new players in the US,” Perez told US Soccer’s official website. “We still called the core group, but at the same time, we can bring a few new players and see how they fit in the style of the national team.”
The US U-18s last gathered for an 11-day camp in the Netherlands back in September. They played four friendlies during that camp and went 3-1-0, including a 4-2 win over their Dutch counterparts.
“This group is progressing very well," Perez continued. "By the second half of next year, they’ll be entering the U-20 national team with Tab Ramos and hopefully we are building a very good group and Tab can lead this team into the new U-20s for the next cycle.”
The 24 players will report to the Home Depot Center for a weeklong camp beginning Nov. 17. They will play a pair of friendlies during that time against their Canadian counterparts on Nov. 21 and 23.
US UNDER-18 NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER
Goalkeepers (3): Santiago Castaño (New York Red Bulls Academy; Union City, N.J.), Ethan Horvath (Unattached, Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zackary Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.)
Defenders (6): Michael Amick (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Suliaman Dainkeh (D.C. United Academy; Reston, Va.), Trevor Haberkorn (Solar Chelsea SC; Roanoke, Texas), Jalen Markey (Seattle Sounders FC Academy; Renton, Wash.), Matthew Miazga (New York Red Bulls Academy; Clifton, N.J.), Christian Sady (New England Revolution Academy; Boston)
Midfielders (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Jacori Hayes (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; Bowie, Md.), Piakai Henkel (Amiens FC; Arcata, Calif.), Brian Iloski (San Diego Surf; Escondido, Calif.), Antonio Murillo (Real Salt Lake AZ, Las Vegas)
Forwards (9): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake AZ; Rochester, N.Y.), Paul Arriola (LA Galaxy Academy; Chula Vista, Calif.), Justin Dhillon (LA Galaxy Academy; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), Benjamin Lopez (Real Salt Lake AZ; San Diego), Kosta Koukladas (Rot-Weiss Essen; Orange County, Calif.), Amando Moreno (New York Red Bulls Academy; Morganville, N.J.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Ben Spencer Jr. (Chivas USA Academy; Albuquerque, N.M.), Travis Wannemuehler (Indiana Fire Academy; Evansville, Ind.)
