June 3, 1997

U.S. Men's Soccer Under-20 National Team Sets Roster for World Youth Championship

CHICAGO, Ill. - United States under-20 men's soccer national team coach Jay Hoffman announced today his 18-man roster for the ninth FIFA World Youth Championship to be played in Malaysia from June 16 through July 5. Three members of the team are also student-athletes at the University of Virginia, as freshman forward Brian West (Columbia, Md.), sophomore defender Matt Chulis (Central Islip, N.Y.) and sophomore midfielder Ben Olsen (Middletown, Pa.) have all been chosen to represent the U.S.

Chulis has been selected as the captain of the team, which has played 14 domestic and 12 international games over the last five months. From his defensive position, Chulis has provided the foundation for the U.S. defense which has recorded nine shutouts in those games. Both Olsen and West have been among the top scoring threats for the team, as Olsen has three goals and three assists, while West has scored two goals and one assist.

The U.S. under-20 squad's 18-man roster includes nine amateur and nine professional players. With three players on the team, Virginia has more than any other school. The only other school with more than one player on the roster is UCLA with two, while South Carolina, Washington, Maryland and Columbia have one player each.

The under-20 team concluded its preparation for Malaysia by going 1-1-2 in the Toulon Festival, drawing with Portugal 1-1 on June 2 in the final match. Portugal, which advanced to the championship game of the tournament against France, was a third-place finisher in the 1995 World Youth Championship in Ecuador.

Tournament play for the U.S. begins on June 17 when the team faces China in Alor Setar, Malaysia. After a June 19 match vs. Ireland, the U.S. completes its first round play on June 22 against Ghana. Ghana finished in second place at the 1993 World Youth Championship in Australia.

The top two teams from each group advance to the single-elimination quarterfinals which will be played on June 29. The semifinals are scheduled for July 2, with the consolation and championship games slated for July 5 in Shah Alam, Malaysia.

The roster for the U.S. under-20 national team follows: 

No. Name                Pos.    School / Club
4   Matt Chulis         D       University of Virginia
12  Ramiro Corrales     D       San Jose Clash (MLS) 
14  Joe DiGiamarino     M       Major League Soccer 
3   Brian Dunseth       D       Major League Soccer
10  Jorge Flores        M       Dallas Burn (MLS)
1   Andy Kirk           G       University of Maryland
2   Chad McCarty        D       University of Washington 
18  Matt Napoleon       G       Columbia University
8   John O'Brien        M       Ajax Amsterdan (Holland) 
11  Ben Olsen           M       University of Virginia
6   Carlos Parra        D       NY/NJ Metrostars (MLS) 
17  Shaun Petroski      F       KFC Uerdingen 05 (Germany) 
5   Tommy Polti         F       University of Calif.-Los Angeles 
13  Esmundo Rodriguez   M       Monterrey Futbol Club (Mexico) 
7   Myles Stoddard      F       Reno Rattlers (D3 Pro League) 
9   Sasha Victorine     M       University of Calif.-Los Angeles 
15  Brian West          F       University of Virginia
16  Josh Wolff          F       University of South Carolina