D.C. United have announced numerous national team call-ups at the youth level, following Bill Hamid’s selection to the senior team camp.
At the Under-20 level, Lucas Mendes, Eryk Williamson and Jonathan Bell have been named to Tab Ramos’ squad as they prepare for the U-20 World Cup held in 2017. Camp, which is being held in Miami, began on January 4th and runs through the 14th.
Lucas, who joined the academy from Arlington Soccer Association, is in his third year with D.C. United. Currently playing on the Under-18 team, this is his second call-up to a youth national team; he was also called into the U18 team last fall. He has committed to the University of Virginia, starting this fall.
Eryk, also from Arlington Soccer Association, recently finished his freshman season at the University of Maryland, where he was named to the Big-Ten all-tournament team. He has been a consistent call-up to youth national team rosters since joining the academy last year. Most recently, Williamson competed with the U-20’s in Germany last October.
Jonathan, from Montgomery Soccer Inc. MSI, is in his fifth year with the D.C. United academy. This is his first call to the youth national team, and he has also committed to play at the University of Virginia.
At the Under-19 level, Grant Robinson will attend camp starting on January 27th and running through February 6th. He joined the academy this year from Baltimore Celtic, and committed to play at George Mason University.
The team, coached by former goalkeeper Brad Friedel, is participating in the Copa de Atlantico in the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain.
In addition to the youth national team call-ups, three D.C. United academy players – Chris Durkin, Chandler Vaughn and Michael Edwards – have been offered invitations to the U.S. Soccer Residency. The program, where players live and train at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., started in 1999 and has produced over 100 players that went on to play in MLS or professional European leagues. For more information on the U.S. Residency program, click here.
D.C. United operate their own residency program, located at the Calverton School 25 miles outside Washington, D.C. For more information on the United residency program, please click here.
