July 24, 2006

For official U.S. Soccer release click here.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University freshman Amaechi Igwe has been named to the United States Under-20 18-player roster for the upcoming Milk Cup tournament to be played in Northern Ireland from July 31 - Aug. 4. The U.S. team will be led by head coach Thomas Rongen.

The U.S. will leave for the tournament on Thursday, July 27 and have a few days of training before facing Wales on Monday, July 31. The U.S. will then go up against Denmark on Wednesday, Aug. 2, and finish the tournament with a placement match on Friday, Aug. 4. The other group consists of Northern Ireland, Paraguay, and Turkey.

Igwe has played in two games so far this year for the Under-20 team. He played 90 minutes in a 2-1 win over Canada on July 7 at Rogers Centre in Toronto and helped set up the game-winning goal late in the first half. After picking up the ball in his own half, Igwe made a long run to the edge of Canada's penalty box before sliding a pass over to Josmer Altidore. Altidore had his initial shot blocked, but he was able to finish the rebound to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. In the second match of that two-game series, Igwe scored his first goal for the Under-20 team on a header for the only American goal in a 1-1 tie. The second game was played in Kingston, Canada on July 9.

Prior to arriving at Santa Clara in January, Igwe, 18, played at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and was a part of the U.S. Under-17 residency program. He played in 18 career international games for the U.S. at the Under-17 level and scored one goal. In 2005, he played in 36 total games and scored five goals, before committing to Santa Clara, where he follows in his brother Kelechi's footsteps.