Jan. 31, 2007

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara freshman soccer played Stephen McCarthy has once again been called in to the United States Under-18 national team. McCarthy and the Americans travel to Mexico this week for the Copa Chivas. The team will play five games in its group against Atlas, Estudiantes de la Plata, Necaxa, Saprissa and Santos. This trip marks McCarthy's second appearance with the U18s after attending a training camp in early January at The Home Depot Center in Carson.

U.S. U-18 MNT head coach Bob Jenkins has called in 20 players for the trip, and the team will train at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., for three days, starting on Jan. 31, before heading to Mexico for the tournament, which takes place from Feb. 3-10 and includes 24 teams split into four groups of six. The U.S. is in Group C with Atlas, Sapprisa, Necaxa, Estudiantes de la Plata and Santos, and will play the five teams over four days. The U.S. kicks off the tournament on Feb. 3 against Atlas and then face Estudiantes de la Plata a day later. On Feb. 5, the U.S. will play two games, facing Necaxa in the morning and then Saprissa in the evening. The USA's final match will be on Feb. 6 against Santos. Depending on their group results, the U.S. will move on to the second round.

Bronco assistant coach Eric Yamamoto serves as an assistant coach for the U18 team.

U-18 MNT Schedule - 2007 Copa Chivas
Date Opponent
Feb. 3 Atlas
Feb. 4 Estudiantes de la Plata
Feb. 5 Necaxa (morning), Saprissa (evening)
Feb. 6 Santos