COLUMBUS – U.S. Soccer has invited the Crew Soccer Academy’s Carter Richardson, Parker Siegfried, Kosti Moni and Ben Swanson to join a total of 64 players in a National Combine beginning today through August 13 at Nike's World Headquarters in Portland, Oregon. The combine includes a selection of the country's elite 15 to 17-year-old players as part of U.S. Soccer's expanded Training Center program launched in partnership with Nike in 2013.
This five-day camp is designed to evaluate and build the core for the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team pool. Led by U.S. Soccer Director of Scouting Tony Lepore, men's Youth National Team staff will run the sessions.
“The four Crew Soccer Academy players selected are very deserving and we are excited about them having continued opportunities with Tony and the National Team Staff,” said Andrew Arthurs, Senior Vice President of Soccer Business Development and Executive Director of Crew Juniors. “Obviously, we see Ben, Carter and Parker locally almost daily and know how hard they have worked – but, we have also watched Kosti make great progress through the years, first with the Grand Rapids Crew Juniors and now as a Crew Soccer Academy Wolves standout. We wish them the best over the next few days.”
The player pool, which included the four Crew Soccer Academy players, was selected by U.S. Soccer scouts through assessment at training centers and local combines, Development Academy events and other youth soccer programs over the past year. This National Combine is a premier opportunity for the nation's top high school-aged boys to be evaluated by National Team staff and scouts from around the country.
Goalkeepers Carter Richardson (Dublin, Ohio) and Parker Siegfried (Granville, Ohio) along with midfielder Ben Swanson (Grove City, Ohio) were the three players chosen from Central Ohio, while midfielder Kosti Moni plays for the Crew Academy Wolves in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Each year, U.S. Soccer holds more than 200 Training Center sessions, which are a one-day National Team player identification program that connects the top local players with Youth National Team scouts. The Training Centers are free and invitation-only, featuring the best local players and competing in a quality YNT environment to open the door toward U.S. Soccer's youth national squads, college and the professional level.
More information on the combine can be foundhere.
Midwest Region (13):
Chicago Combine participants:
GOALKEEPERS (2):Carter Richardson (Crew Soccer Academy; Dublin, Ohio),Parker Siegfried (Crew Soccer Academy; Granville, Ohio)
DEFENDERS (2): Shannon Seymour (Chicago Fire; Bourbonnais, Ill.), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Ill.)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Cameron Lindley (Indiana Fire; Carmel, Ind.), Collin Fernandez (Chicago Fire; Downers Grove, Ill.),Kosti Moni (Crew Soccer Academy Wolves; Grand Rapids, Mich.),Brad Dunwell (Vardar; Grand Rapids, Mich.)
No previous combine:
DEFENDERS (1): Peter Schropp (Omaha FC; Omaha, Neb.)
MIDFIELDERS (1):Ben Swanson (Crew Soccer Academy; Grove City, Ohio)
FORWARDS (3): Mukwelle Akale (Minnesota Thunder; Minneapolis, Minn.), Andrija Novakovich (Chicago Magic PSG; Muskego, Wis.), Mark Segbers (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.)
