U.S. U-16 BNT roster set for Aegean Cup in Turkey

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-16 Boys’ National Team is headed to Manisa, Turkey, to take part in the 2015 Aegean Cup International Youth Tournament from Jan. 19-24.

An 18-player roster will represent the USA and open Group A play against Romania on Monday, Jan. 19. The U-16 BNT then faces Norway on Jan. 20 and Turkey on Jan. 22. Following group play in the eight-team tournament, the top group teams will face each other in the championship on Jan. 24. A third-place match also will be held on that day.

Group B includes the Czech Republic, France, Greece and Ukraine.

Luchi Gonzalez, the head coach of the FC Dallas U-16 Development Academy team and Shaun Tsakiris, De Anza Force’s U-14 and U-16 head coach, are overseeing the USA squad.

Nine players among this group were part of the U-16 BNT’s November camp in France to cap off 2014. Sixteen of the 18 players on this roster were born in 1999 and two in 2000.

There are 14 current Development Academy players and 17 overall who have had ties to the Academy.

U.S. U-16 BNT Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Avilez (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Westminster, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (5): Roger Batse (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Raleigh, N.C.), McKay Eves (Real Salt Lake AZ; Casa Grande, Ariz.), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City; Saddle River, N.J.), Daniel Jones (New England Revolution; West Hartford, Conn.), Rayshaun McGann (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City; Sanford, Fla.), Jose Alfaro Jr. (Monarcas Morelia; Chicago, Ill.), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State; South El Monte, Calif.), Juan Pablo Torres (Georgia United; Liburn, Ga.), Adrian Villegas (Portland Timbers; Hood River, Ore.)
FORWARDS (5): Lucas del Rosario (Capital Area RailHawks – CASL; Durham, N.C.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Leo Marquez-Ramirez (Leon; Visalia, Calif.), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution; Boston, Mass.), Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force; Livermore, Calif.)