Washington, D.C. (April 21, 2015) – D.C. United Academy Director Nolan Sheldon has earned the Elite Formation Coaching License through participation in Major League Soccer’s partnership program with the French Football Association. Sheldon completed nearly two years of courses and evaluations, including trips to France to study the French style of play. Sheldon will segue the license into participation in a technical director’s course administered by the U.S. Soccer Federation in Portland, Ore., in the coming weeks.
D.C. United Academy midfielder Eryk Williamson has been called into the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team as part of a 20-player roster that will travel to Medugorje, Bosnia & Herzegovina, from April 22-May 1. Williamson has been a regular selection for the U.S. U-18s, recently participating in the 2015 Copa Chivas Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. He is coming off a two-goal performance for the D.C. United Academy U-18 team.
The U.S. U-18 team will play three friendly matches in Bosnia & Herzegovina, against Siroki Brijeg on April 25, and a pair of contests against Bosnia U-18s on April 28 and April 30.
D.C. United Academy defender Chandler Vaughn has been called into the U.S. Under-15 Boys' National Team as part of a 20-player roster that will travel to Gradisca d'Isonzo, Italy, from April 21-May 2, and compete in the 12th Tournament Delle Nazioni. The team will first travel to Italy, one of the tournament's three host nations, before heading to Slovenia for its group stage matches. The U.S. has been drawn into Group C of the tournament alongside Slovenia, Costa Rica and Croatia.
In academy action, D.C. United’s U-14s, U-16s, and U-18s took on their regional neighbors, the Baltimore Bays, on April 18. In a trio of games at Hammond High School in Columbia, Md., the Black-and-Red went 3-0-0, scoring a combined 21 goals. They will look to carry on the same form against Bethesda-Olney on April 25 and NJCSA on April 26.
United’s U-12s took on Philadelphia SC Coppa at RFK on April 19, winning 4-0 in their third game of the season. They will return to action on Sunday, April 26, taking on VE Green Gunners in Pennsylvania.
Game Recaps:
U-12s: 4-0 win against Philadelphia SC Coppa
Goals: Juston Rainey, Foday Bangura, Jacob Greene, Carlos Cardona
“The team put together another excellent and collective performance,” said U12 Head Coach Dave Sanford. “With it being only the third game of the season, it’s fantastic to see the team working so well together and shows the quality of players within the squad. We possessed the ball throughout the majority of the game; it’s a sign of great things to come.”
U-14s: 7-0 win against Baltimore Bays
Goals: Dan Benavides (2), Ryan Jones (2), Noah Nwosu (2), Jonathan Godette
“Overall, it was a positive match that showed the quality of each player within the team. The substitutes came on at half and played very well,” stated U-14 Head Coach Nolan Sheldon. “Strong performances like these will continue to strengthen the competitive environment at training.”
U-16s: 5-0 win against Baltimore Bays
Goals: Raheem Lawal, Carson Jeffris, SahrFelix Sandy (2), Luis Rodriguez-Luna
“It was good to see the group come out with intensity and purpose in the first half to set the tone for the rest of the match,” stated U-16 Head Coach Jonathan Frias. “Although the group had some patchy spells late in the half, we were happy to be able to capitalize on our opportunities at the right moments of the match, and keep a clean sheet as we head into a big double-header weekend.”
U-18s: 9-0 win against Baltimore Bays
Goals: Jorge Calix (2), Lucas Mendes (2), Daniel Reeves (2), Eryk Williamson (2), Stephane Kouame
“Overall, the boys put together a solid attacking performance and held together well defensively,” said U-18 Head Coach Tom Torres. “We will look to have them prepared and clicking for this weekend's double fixture.”
