Three Locals Called Into U-20 Camp

UMass, BC and Brown Freshmen Join 22 Other in Bayou

February 20, 2008

CHICAGO – Freshmen Stuart Amick (UMass), Shawn Chin (Boston College) and Jon Okafor (Brown) were among the 23 college players called into the US Under-20 Men’s National Team’s domestic training camp that began yesterday in New Orleans.

The camp, held from Feb. 19-24, is headed by coach Thomas Rongen and made up entirely of collegiate players.

UMass' Stuart Amick was among the 23 players called into US U-20 camp. (Photo courtesy: UMass Athletics).

Amick finished the 2007 season with five goals and two assists for 12 points - third best on UMass. Two of his goals were game-winners. A midfielder for the Minutemen, Amick will play as a defender for the National Team. During UMass’ magical run to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, he scored goals against Boston University in the first round and against Illinois-Chicago in the Elite Eight. He also had an assist in the third round game against Central Connecticut State.

BC’s Chin started in 20 of 21 games at midfield for the Eagles last fall. He registered eight points -- three goals and two assists -- and attempted 19 shots. The Miami, Fla., resident scored once in each of two ACC victories; he scored BC's first goal in the team's 2-1 home victory over NC State (9/30) and scored in the first half of the Eagles' 3-1 home win over Virginia Tech (11/9).

Okafor, midfielder for Brown, played in 17 games (15 starts) last year for the Bears and finished fourth on the team with 10 points. He recorded two assists and four goals, including two gamer-winners on 26 shots.

On Saturday, Feb. 23 the U.S. will face the Honduras U-20 MNT, and on Sunday will face either the New Orleans Shell Shockers or Victoria, a youth team from Honduras. The two Saturday winners will match up on Sunday, while the losing teams will meet in a consolation match.

The full US U-20 Roster:

GOALKEEPERS(2): Warren Gross (Penn State), Austin Guerrero (University of Portland)

DEFENDERS(6): Stuart Amick (University of Massachusetts), Greg Eckhardt (Clemson University), Andre Mittoo (South Florida), Ike Opara (Wake Forest), James Shupp (Virginia Tech), Chris Taylor (University of Tulsa)

MIDFIELDERS(8): Richard Balchan (Indiana University), Shawn Chin (Boston College), Daniel Cruz (UNLV), Blair Gavin (Akron), Wilfrido Lara (DePaul University), John Okafor (Brown University), Michael Stephens (UCLA), Spencer Thompson (Michigan State)

FORWARDS(7): Blake Brettschneider (University of South Carolina), Cameron Brown (University of North Carolina), Steven Cabas (Florida International), Daniel Kelly (Indiana University), Peri Marosevic (University of Michigan), Ryan Thomas (Stanford University), Andrew Weideman (University of California)

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