CHICAGO ­- University of Denver men’s soccer forward Sam Garza (Highlands Village, Texas) is one of 18 players chosen to play for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team as it travels to Cairo, Egypt, from June 22-30 in preparation for the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
“We are very excited about this opportunity for Sam to try to make the U.S. U-20 World Cup team and to represent our nation,” head coach Bobby Muuss said. “We wish Sam and the U.S. team the best in World Cup preparation. I am confident Sam will proudly represent himself and the DU soccer program in Egypt.”
The U.S. U-20 team will play two international friendlies against Egypt on June 27 and June 29 as both teams prepare for the World Cup. The U.S. team will also get accustomed to the travel, hotel and food in the country that will host the event from Sept. 24-Oct. 16, 2009.
Garza became the first DU soccer player in program history to make a World Cup qualifying team when he competed with the U.S. U-20 team at the 2009 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Trinidad & Tobago last March.
Twelve of the 18 players traveling to Egypt played on the CONCACAF U-20 Championship team, including Garza. The team took second place in the tournament and posted four consecutive shutouts heading into the regional final.
Garza’s performance in Egypt could help him secure a place on the U.S. U-20 World Cup team.
In the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the U.S. will compete in Group C, matching up against Germany on Sept. 26, Cameroon on Sept. 29 and Korea Republic on Oct. 2 in the first round. All three matches will be played at the brand-new Mubarak Stadium in Suez.
Garza was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Year after helping Denver win its first-ever MPSF championship and make its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1970 in the 2008 season. Garza played in all 19 of DU’s games, making 14 starts. The forward tallied four goals and four assists for 12 points. Three of Garza’s assists came in games in which he also scored a goal, including a two-goal, one-assist effort in a 3-3 tie with San Jose State on Oct. 31. A highly-touted recruit out of high school, Garza was the 2007-08 Gatorade Texas Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year.
U.S. U-20 National Team Egypt Roster
Player | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Birthdate | Hometown | Club |
Agbossoumonde, Gale | D | 6-2 | 185 | 11/17/91 | Syracuse, N.Y. | unattached |
Cruz, Danny | M | 5-8 | 180 | 01/03/90 | Glendale, Ariz. | Houston Dynamo |
Duka, Dilly | M | 5-9 | 160 | 09/15/89 | Montville, N.J. | Rutgers University |
Flores, Jorge | D | 5-11 | 150 | 09/16/89 | Anaheim, Calif. | Chivas USA |
Garza, Sam | F | 5-10 | 165 | 10/17/89 | Highland Village, Texas | University of Denver |
Johnson, Sean | GK | 6-4 | 220 | 05/31/89 | Lilburn, Ga. | University of Central Florida |
Marosevic, Peri | F | 5-9 | 160 | 05/05/89 | Rockford, Ill. | FC Dallas |
Maund, Aaron | D | 6-2 | 175 | 09/19/90 | Dorchester, Mass. | University of Notre Dame |
Mayen, Gerson | M | 5-8 | 150 | 02/09/89 | Los Angeles, Calif. | Chivas USA |
Ownby, Brian | M | 5-11 | 160 | 07/16/90 | Glen Allen, Va. | University of Virginia |
Perk, Brian | GK | 5-11 | 180 | 07/21/89 | Rch. Santa Margarita, Calif. | UCLA |
Powers, Dillon | M | 5-11 | 175 | 02/14/91 | Plano, Texas | Andromeda |
Saavedra, Gerardo | M | 5-9 | 125 | 10/28/91 | Milwaukee, Wis. | Mequon SC |
Stephens, Michael | M | 5-9 | 150 | 04/03/89 | Naperville, Ill. | UCLA |
Taylor, Tony | F | 6-0 | 175 | 07/13/89 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Jacksonville University |
Valentin, Zarek | D | 5-11 | 160 | 08/06/91 | Lancaster, Pa. | PA Classics |
Wenger, Andrew | M | 6-0 | 170 | 12/25/90 | Lititz, Pa. | PA Classics |
Williams, Sheanon | D | 5-11 | 165 | 03/17/90 | Boston, Mass. | unattached |
Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Johnson (Central Florida; Lilburn, Ga.), Brian Perk (UCLA; Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (5): Gale Agbossoumonde (unattached; Syracuse, N.Y.), Jorge Flores (Chivas USA; Anaheim, Calif.), Aaron Maund (Notre Dame; Dorchester, Mass.), Zarek Valentin (PA Classics; Lancaster, Pa.) Sheanon Williams (unattached; Boston, Mass.)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Danny Cruz (Houston Dynamo; Glendale, Ariz.), Dilly Duka (Rutgers; Montville, N.J.), Gerson Mayen (Chivas USA; Los Angeles, Calif.), Brian Ownby (Virginia; Glen Allen, Va.), Dillon Powers (Andromeda; Plano, Texas), Gerardo Saavedra (Mequon SC; Milwaukee, Wis.), Michael Stephens (UCLA; Naperville, Ill.), Andrew Wenger (PA Classics; Lititz, Pa.)
FORWARDS (3): Sam Garza (Denver; Highland Village, Texas), Peri Marosevic (FC Dallas; Rockford, Ill.) Tony Taylor (Jacksonville; Jacksonville, Fla.)
National Team Staff
Head Coach: Thomas Rongen (Sewalls Point, Fla.)
Assistant Coach: Dave Dir (Dallas, Texas)
Goalkeeper Coach: Tim Mulqueen (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Robbie Elliott (Newcastle, England)
Team Coordinator: Jon Fleishman (Long Beach, Calif.)
Equipment Coordinator: Beto Cuevas (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
Athletic Trainer: Marcus Holliday (Bradenton, Fla.)
Team Doctor: Dwite Dahms (Westlake Village, Calif.)
-PIONEERS-
