Academy
United Builds brought ten D.C. United staff members, representing six different departments, to serve lunch today in an effort to assist So Others Might Eat. The staff members prepared plates, set tables, ran beverage service and staffed the dish room throughout three different shifts. SOME served over 230 homeless individuals lunch today and serves over 240,000 meals in the dining room alone, annually.
Collin Martin, former D.C. United Academy standout and current Wake Forest Demon Deacon, was called into the United States U-20 Training Camp in Carson, Calif., from April 22-29 in preparation for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The freshman midfielder/forward hails from Chevy Chase, Md., and has trained with Manchester United in 2008 and German side Hoffenheim in 2011. The young midfielder has made an impact with both United’s Academy and professional level— scoring a game-tying goal for United’s reserve team against the New England Revolution. Furthermore, Martin impressed coaches and players alike at several practices with United’s First Team in 2012.
Martin— named First Team All-Met by the Washington Post— helped the U-18s reach the USSDA National Championship in Texas and was named an Eastern Conference starting XI midfielder at the end of the 2012 season.
The 18-year-old graduated early from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School and went on to feature in 20 games for Wake Forest, starting 15 of them. The young standout tallied one goal and registered six assists in the 2012 season, helping the Demon Deacons reach the first round of the NCAA tournament. Martin was then called into the U-20 camp in December of 2012.
"Collin being called into camp is important for D.C. United," said D.C. United Director of Youth Development Sonny Silooy. "He is still 18, still very young. When someone is already selected at just 17, you know he already has a lot of talent. He has potential to make the First Team for D.C and maybe the United States National Team someday."
Collin will join 23 other players in California, including current Major League Soccer standouts Will Trap and Jose Villarreal.
Traveling with his father, D.C. United legend John Harkes to the UK, Black-and-Red Academy standout Ian Harkes met and took a picture with Chelsea FC superstar Frank Lampard. Harkes and Lampard are posing for the camera at Stamford Bridge, the Blues' storied stadium in central London. Lampard recently tallied his 200th goal for Chelsea against former team West Ham United on March 18.
Currently featuring for the United U-18s, Harkes will be headed to Wake Forest University to play collegiate soccer in the fall.
Last Wednesday, the U-18 and U-16 D.C. United Academy teams underwent extensive eye evaluations, providing yet another example of the elite physical tests that United’s youth players receive.
Dr. Keith Smithson of Northern Virginia Doctors of Optometry conducted the exams, which evaluated the following beyond the standard eye health test: visual reaction/decision-making speed, internal macular pigment density, glare-recovery speed, hand-eye coordination (goalkeepers), foot-eye coordination (field players) and depth perception. The purpose of these exams was to analyze each player’s visual peak in order to maximize their potential in that area of play.
The D.C. United Academy is among the League’s best, with its Homegrown players contributing the most First Team minutes of any club in MLS. The U-16s currently sit atop the East Conference’s Atlantic Division in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy League with a 13-1-3 record, while the U-18s are holding strong in fourth place with a 11-5-1 mark.
As part of a recent gotsoccer.com contest, Academy brothers Mike and Jack Daunt submitted videos of their tennis ball juggling skills. The brothers have been selected as finalists, and you can vote for them online.
Mike Daunt is part of the D.C. United Academy U-13 squad, while older brother Jack plays for the U-15s. The Academy is on a winter break and will return to action in January. Read all Academy and youth news.
MLS announced the 2013 MLS Combine Invite list today. The initial list is comprised of 54 of the top NCAA Division I players from the past season.
Former D.C. United Academy midfielder Uwem Etuk was selected to the list, after a successful collegiate career with West Virginia. Etuk saw time in 75 matches for the Mountaineers, notching eight goals and 18 assists.
In his time with the Academy, Etuk played alongside current United defender Ethan White. Today, White gave a shout out to his former teammate on Twitter:
Good luck to my boy @uetuk10 at the MLS Combine. Former DCU academy teammate. Would love to see our whole U18 team make it.
— Ethan White (@EthanWhite15) December 11, 2012
On Friday night the Georgetown Men's Soccer Team made school history when they qualified for the NCAA National Championship match for the first time. The Hoyas battled neighbor school, the University of Maryland to a 4-4 draw in regular-time.
Former D.C. United Academy midfielder Tyler Rudy, a sophomore at Georgetown, played his part with an assist on the first Hoyas goal in the 33rd minute. Eventually the sides would meet for penalty kicks, and Georgetown would come out on top 4-3.
The local boys make their first National Championship appearance this Sunday at 2:00 PM against seven-time National Champions the Indiana Hoosiers. Watch the match on ESPNU or at WatchESPN.com, with commentary by Glenn Davis and Taylor Twellman.
Congratulations to the D.C. United U-16 Development Academy who will go into their winter break as the number one team in the nation. The Academy is the only division leader who boasts an undefeated record over the first 13 matches. With a 2.69 points per game average, they also lead their age-group in goals. 15 year old Gerson Umana, sits atop the individual standings with 11 goals on the season.
The US Development Academy season starts in September and goes through the following June. The winter break falls between December and March.
Gerson Umana
A report out today from TopDrawerSoccer.com offers some quotes from D.C. United U-16 Academy player, Gerson Umana.
Umana is currently tied for first in scoring among USSF Development Academy U-16 players with nine goals. “It’s really all team work,” Umana told TopDrawerSoccer.com. “I think as a team we are really complete [and] my coach is making me into a better player.”
D.C. United's mission of "winning championships and serving the community" isn't only for the first team. On Sunday, October 14, D.C. United Academy players, coaches, and parents participated in the Acumen Solution's 8K Race for a Cause in Arlington, VA. The race helped raise money for United for D.C. - the club's charitable arm.
Forty-five players from United's U-14, U-15, and U-16 teams ran with 15 coaches and parent plus the events hundreds of other participants. D.C. United front office staff also participated.
Most of the Academy players were sleepy and chilly at the start of the race (see above), but they warmed up during the run and enjoyed representing the Black-and-Red and a community event.
New Director of Youth Development, Sonny Silooy, finished first among the Academy coaches. And, as the photo on the right suggests, he was pretty happy about it.