D.C. United announces 2013-14 Academy Teams

D.C. United today announced its rosters for the 2013-2014 Academy teams. Seventy-two players from the greater Washington, D.C. region were selected for the Black-and-Red’s Academy squads: 25 on the U-14 team, 23 on the U-16 side and 24 on the U-18 team roster.

Following a 2012-13 campaign that saw all three teams make post-season appearances, this year’s squads will have 45 familiar faces that played with the Black-and-Red last year. Leading the way are the U18 team with 18 players who have played at the Academy level for United, followed by U16 which returns 14 players and U14 which will return 13.

Now in its second season, the U-14 team, considered Pre-Academy in 2012-13, will join the newly launched U.S. Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) U-14 division starting this fall.

Of the 25 players who will take part in the first U-14 season under the USSDA, three of them came from Black-and-Red youth club affiliates: North Virginia Soccer Club (NVSC), Annandale Boys and Girls Club (ABGC), Beach FC, Arlington Soccer Association, Stafford Soccer and Freestate Soccer Alliance. Arlington Soccer Association leads all youth affiliates with four players (all on U-16s), followed by NVSC with three players (two U-14s and one U-16) and Annandale Boys and Girls Club with one player (U-14).

“We are very pleased with the continued growth and expansion of our Academy,” said D.C. United Director of Youth Development, Sonny Silooy. “The D.C. metropolitan area has always been a hotbed of talent, and this year was no exception with the pool of selected players. We are excited about the Academy teams we have constructed for the upcoming season, and look forward to building off the programs’ success in sending players to top-rated colleges and United’s First Team.”

Since the Academy’s inception in 2007, United has signed six Homegrown players to its First Team roster:
Bill Hamid, Collin Martin, Andy Najar, Michael Seaton, Conor Shanosky and Ethan White. Seaton, signed Jan. 14, is the first player born after the League’s inception to ink a deal with an MLS team. Currently, the Black-and-Red has five Homegrown players on its roster who have all seen playing time during the 2013 season. On Aug.10, Hamid, Martin, Shanosky and White started against the Philadelphia Union as Seaton came on as a substitute.

About D.C. United Academy

D.C. United's Academy teams and training programs are designed to find and develop the top players in the Washington region. The club’s coaches and staff emphasize playing attractive, possession-oriented soccer. The ultimate goal is to prepare players for the club's First Team or the nation's top university teams. Since the Academy’s inaugural season in2007 it has seen nine players called up to their respective National Teams (U14-U18), 20 players called up to play in MLS Reserve League matches for United and in 2012, 10 players announced their intention to attend eight NCAA Division-I programs to play college soccer.

Below is the complete list of D.C. United Academy Rosters:

U-14 Academy

U-14 Coaching Staff:
Jonathan Frias – Head Coach
Steve Olivarez – Assistant Coach
Tom Torres – Assistant Coach
Nolan Sheldon – Assistant Coach
Ronald Cerritos – Trainer
Roger Wimmer – Goalkeeper Coach
Brian Gerlach – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning
Zack Delgado – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning

U-16 Academy

U-16 Coaching Staff:
Tom Torres – Head Coach
Nolan Sheldon – Assistant Coach
Steve Olivarez – Assistant Coach
Jonathan Frias – Assistant Coach
Roger Wimmer – Goalkeeper Coach
Brian Gerlach – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning
Zack Delgado – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning

U-18 Academy

U-18 Coaching Staff:
Nolan Sheldon – Head Coach
Tom Torres – Assistant Coach
Steve Olivarez – Assistant Coach
Jonathan Frias – Assistant Coach
Roger Wimmer – Goalkeeper Coach
Brian Gerlach – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning
Zack Delgado – Athletic Trainer & Strength and Conditioning