The University of Akron Athletics
Five UA Soccer Players Selected for U.S. Youth National Team
April 13 | Men's Soccer
AKRON, Ohio – Five
University of Akron men's soccer players, including freshman Kofi
Sarkodie and incoming freshmen Chad Barson, Scott
Caldwell, Ben Speas and Zarek Valentin,
have been selected by the U.S. Under-18 men's national team to
train in Carson, Calif., from Apr. 18-26, Zips' head coach Caleb
Porter announced Monday.
The elite team, comprised of 26 hand-picked athletes from across the country all born on or after January 1, 1991, has been one of U.S. Soccer's most successful squads in recent years, earning wins against Portugal and Paraguay in 2008 while compiling a 4-3-1 record. Along with international games and trips, the U-18 men's national team plays friendlies against Development Academy U-17/18 teams and some of the top college programs in the country.
In December, U.S. Soccer announced that Mike Matkovich, who is an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, has been named head coach of the Under-18 Men's National Team. Matkovic founded the Chicago Magic Soccer Club in 1987 and has also served as an assistant coach with Toronto FC and Chivas USA from the MLS.
All five UA players are no strangers to international play, however, as each has already logged considerable time within the U.S. national team system.
Sarkodie, a Soccer America Freshman All-American last Fall, has trained at the U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15 levels. The defender started all 23 games for UA in 2008 and helped guide the Zips to the best defensive season in school history with a team goals-against-average of 0.45, the top mark in the nation.
The young star recorded a goal in his first collegiate game to help Akron upset then-ranked No. 3 Notre Dame, 3-0, in the season opener and added a pair of assists as the season progressed in addition to playing lock-down defense.
Sarkodie, who was selected to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team, was also named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team – the only freshman named to the 33-player squad – and the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team.
Barson, who also has starred on multiple U.S. national teams (U-18, U-17, U-15), is the 10th-best prospect in the nation according Top Drawer Soccer. The defender is a 2008 Parade All-American, a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American and a 2008 all-state second team honoree for Division I.
Caldwell is another U.S. national team veteran, having played with the U-17 and U-15 squads in addition to the U-18s. The midfielder is the ninth-ranked prospect by Top Drawer Soccer, is a 2008 Parade All-American and three-time NSCAA Youth All-American ('06, '07, '08).
Barson and Caldwell, who are both currently enrolled in classes at UA this semester, have each already made significant impacts for the Zips' during their spring season and have appeared in all four contests thus far.
Barson has started each game on UA's talented back line and helped the Zips post shutouts against Michigan and Wake Forest while Caldwell scored his first goal in an Akron uniform, finding the net against the Demon Deacons.
Speas, who is the eighth-ranked prospect in the nation according to ESPN Rise.com, has competed with U-18 and U-17 teams. The midfielder is a two-time Parade All-American ('07, '08), an NSCAA High School Boys All-American in 2008 and an adidas ESP All-Star in 2007. Furthermore, Speas is a member of the Academy National Finals U-18 Columbus Crew Academy team.
Valentin has the distinction of having played on four U.S. national teams (U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15) and is also a 2008 NSCAA High School Boys All-American. The defender, who was ranked the 53rd-best high school prospect by Top Drawer Soccer, was also a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American ('06, '07, '08), and an ESPN Rise All-America first team honoree.
Barson, Caldwell, Speas and Valentin represent roughly half of UA's top-ranked signing class of 2009.
The Zips, who are 3-0-1 this spring – posting victories over Michigan, Wake Forest and Oakland, will return to action next weekend when they head to Ft. Wayne, Ind. to face the Indiana Hoosiers at 7 p.m on Apr. 18.
From there, UA will return to Lee Jackson Field for the final game of the spring as it hosts the Columbus Crew, the reigning champions of Major League Soccer, in an exhibition starting at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the exciting event are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and are on sale now at the Akron Athletics ticket office. UA students will be admitted free with a valid student ID. For more information, please call the ticket office at 1-888-99-AKRON.
The elite team, comprised of 26 hand-picked athletes from across the country all born on or after January 1, 1991, has been one of U.S. Soccer's most successful squads in recent years, earning wins against Portugal and Paraguay in 2008 while compiling a 4-3-1 record. Along with international games and trips, the U-18 men's national team plays friendlies against Development Academy U-17/18 teams and some of the top college programs in the country.
In December, U.S. Soccer announced that Mike Matkovich, who is an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer, has been named head coach of the Under-18 Men's National Team. Matkovic founded the Chicago Magic Soccer Club in 1987 and has also served as an assistant coach with Toronto FC and Chivas USA from the MLS.
All five UA players are no strangers to international play, however, as each has already logged considerable time within the U.S. national team system.
Sarkodie, a Soccer America Freshman All-American last Fall, has trained at the U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15 levels. The defender started all 23 games for UA in 2008 and helped guide the Zips to the best defensive season in school history with a team goals-against-average of 0.45, the top mark in the nation.
The young star recorded a goal in his first collegiate game to help Akron upset then-ranked No. 3 Notre Dame, 3-0, in the season opener and added a pair of assists as the season progressed in addition to playing lock-down defense.
Sarkodie, who was selected to the All-Mid-American Conference First Team, was also named to the All-Great Lakes Region Second Team – the only freshman named to the 33-player squad – and the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team.
Barson, who also has starred on multiple U.S. national teams (U-18, U-17, U-15), is the 10th-best prospect in the nation according Top Drawer Soccer. The defender is a 2008 Parade All-American, a two-time NSCAA Youth All-American and a 2008 all-state second team honoree for Division I.
Caldwell is another U.S. national team veteran, having played with the U-17 and U-15 squads in addition to the U-18s. The midfielder is the ninth-ranked prospect by Top Drawer Soccer, is a 2008 Parade All-American and three-time NSCAA Youth All-American ('06, '07, '08).
Barson and Caldwell, who are both currently enrolled in classes at UA this semester, have each already made significant impacts for the Zips' during their spring season and have appeared in all four contests thus far.
Barson has started each game on UA's talented back line and helped the Zips post shutouts against Michigan and Wake Forest while Caldwell scored his first goal in an Akron uniform, finding the net against the Demon Deacons.
Speas, who is the eighth-ranked prospect in the nation according to ESPN Rise.com, has competed with U-18 and U-17 teams. The midfielder is a two-time Parade All-American ('07, '08), an NSCAA High School Boys All-American in 2008 and an adidas ESP All-Star in 2007. Furthermore, Speas is a member of the Academy National Finals U-18 Columbus Crew Academy team.
Valentin has the distinction of having played on four U.S. national teams (U-20, U-18, U-17 and U-15) and is also a 2008 NSCAA High School Boys All-American. The defender, who was ranked the 53rd-best high school prospect by Top Drawer Soccer, was also a three-time NSCAA Youth All-American ('06, '07, '08), and an ESPN Rise All-America first team honoree.
Barson, Caldwell, Speas and Valentin represent roughly half of UA's top-ranked signing class of 2009.
The Zips, who are 3-0-1 this spring – posting victories over Michigan, Wake Forest and Oakland, will return to action next weekend when they head to Ft. Wayne, Ind. to face the Indiana Hoosiers at 7 p.m on Apr. 18.
From there, UA will return to Lee Jackson Field for the final game of the spring as it hosts the Columbus Crew, the reigning champions of Major League Soccer, in an exhibition starting at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the exciting event are $10 for adults and $5 for youth and are on sale now at the Akron Athletics ticket office. UA students will be admitted free with a valid student ID. For more information, please call the ticket office at 1-888-99-AKRON.
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