Academy Update

Three U-18 D.C. United Academy players – Suliaman Dainkeh (Reston, Va.; Reston Soccer), Ian Harkes (Fairfax, Va.; Herndon Youth Soccer) and Michael Sauers (Glen Arm, Md.; Baltimore Bays Chelsea) – were selected to 2012 NSCAA All-America Teams, with Harkes and Sauers named to the High School Boys Team and Dainkeh named to the Youth Boys Team. Additionally, former Academy player Collin Martin is in Sunrise, Fla., through Dec. 22 for a U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team training camp.

Dainkeh played in seven matches (seven starts) for the U-18 backline thus far this season. He has also made appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the U-18 level, most recently participating in a U-18 camp at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., from Nov. 17-24, 2012. The team played two friendlies against the U-18s of Canada on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23. Harkes has appeared in four games (four starts) in the 2012-13 campaign for United’s U-18s as a center midfielder, tallying one goal. Sauers entered one match for the U-18s in the fall season as a midfielder.

The annual NSCAA All-America luncheon – an affair that honors All-America players at the youth, high school and college levels – will occur on Saturday, January 19, 2013 in Indianapolis, Ind. It is held in conjunction with the 66th annual NSCAA Convention, which will draw 10,000 coaches, administrators and soccer business professionals in total from around the country and world.

Former D.C. United Academy player Collin Martin (Wake Forest University; Chevy Chase, Md.; Olney Boys and Girls Club) is one of 24 players participating in a week-long U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team training camp, which will conclude on Dec. 22.

Martin, one of 19 players in the Florida camp with Academy ties, excelled in his freshman year at Wake Forest University. After graduating high school a year early, Martin appeared in 20 games for the Demon Deacons, tallying one goal and six assists, a team best. On December 7, Martin – along with fellow Academy teammate Jalen Robinson – was selected to one of TopDrawerSoccer.com’s All-Freshman teams.

Most recently, Martin was called into the U.S. U-20 camp on April 9 in Portland, Ore., the only high school junior to be selected. In 2011, Martin scored 13 goals for United’s U-16s and was subsequently named to the U-15/U-16 Development Academy starting XI.