The University of Akron Athletics
Trio of UA Defenders Picked for U-20 Competition
March 24 | Men's Soccer
Three members of the University of Akron men's soccer team, Chad
Barson, Kofi Sarkodie and Zarek
Valentin, have been selected for the United States Under-20
Men's National Team, U.S. Soccer announced recently.
The talented trio represents three-fourths of a Zips' starting back
line that recorded one of the greatest defensive seasons in NCAA
history last fall. Akron, which advanced to the national
championship game after winning 23 consecutive matches, posted the
second-highest shutout total (19) in Division I history while its
goals-against-average (0.27) and shutout percentage (.760) were
third all-time.
Barson, a freshman defender from Lewis Center, Ohio; Sarkodie, a
sophomore defender from Huber Heights, Ohio; and Valentin, a
freshman defender from Lancaster, Pa., will join the 20-player
national team in Dallas Thursday to begin preparations for the
upcoming Dallas Cup. The U.S. will face Mexico on Sunday, Mar. 28,
in the tournament's opening game at Pizza Hut Park, the home field
of FC Dallas of Major League Soccer, at 8 p.m. (EST).
The team will also face the Vancouver Whitecaps on March 29 at 3:30
p.m. (EST) and Eintrecht Frankfurt on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. (EST).
The top finisher in each group will compete in the semifinals on
April 2, with the final held on April 4.
Barson was named to the Freshman Team by Soccer America
and College Soccer News while Sarkodie was named to
All-America postseason teams by Soccer America and
College Soccer News in addition to being a CoSida Academic
All-America First Team honoree last fall. Valentin was a member of
the Soccer America and College Soccer News
Freshman Team and was the Mid-American Conference's Newcomer of the
Year.
U.S. U-20 MNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2):
Justin Luthy (Boston College; Dublin, Ohio), Zac MacMath (Maryland;
St. Petersburg, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (7): Chad
Barson (Akron; Lewis Center, Ohio), Jesus Gonzalez (CZ Elite;
Burbank, Calif.), Ian Hines-Ike (Chivas USA Academy; Littleton,
Colo.), Tyler Polak (CSA Legacy; Lincoln, Neb.), Kofi
Sarkodie (Akron; Huber Heights, Ohio), Zarek Valentin (Akron;
Lancaster, Pa.), Jared Watts (Wake Forest; Statesville, N.C.)
MIDFIELDERS (7):
Jose Altamirano (San Diego State; San Diego, Calif.), Bryan De La
Fuente (Chivas USA Academy; Bell, Calif.), Ruben Gonzalez (Chivas
USA; Hawaiian Gardens, Calif.), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union;
Sacramento, Calif.), Will Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord,
Mass.), Dillon Powers (Notre Dame; Plano, Texas), Cesar Zamora
(Chivas USA; Sylmar, Calif.)
FORWARDS (4): Will
Bates (Virginia; Chester, Va.), Ryan Finley (Duke; Lumberton,
N.J.), Francisco Navas Cobo (Houston Dynamo; Richmond, Texas),
Moises Orozco (Tigres; Oxnard, Calif.)
