D.C. United Academy player Eryk Williamson (Alexandria, Va.; Arlington Soccer Association) has been named to the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team. Head Coach Javier Perez’s 20-player roster for the 2015 Copa Chivas Tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Williamson will join with the U.S. team after participating as a guest player in D.C. United’s preseason camp in Bradenton, Fla.
The U.S. opens its Group A stage of Copa Chivas against Monarcas Morelia on Friday, Jan. 30 (1 p.m. ET). The U-18’s then face Cruzeiro Esporte Clube on Jan. 31 (10 a.m.), Club Tijuana on Feb. 2 (10 a.m.) and Club Deportivo Universidad Católica on Feb. 3 (10 a.m.). The top eight seeds advance to the tournament’s quarterfinal stage, which begins Feb. 5, followed by the semifinals on Feb. 6 and the title game on Feb. 7.
The Copa Chivas Internacional tournament features three groups of five teams. Group B includes Mexico’s U-17 national team, Boca Juniors, Monterrey, River Plate and Tigres. Group C features FC Dallas, Atlas, Atlético Paranaense, Chivas Guadalajara and Urawa Red Diamonds.
Williamson last joined the U-18 U.S. team in Dec. 2014 for two friendly matches against the U-18 German National Team in Marbella, Spain. A student at T.C. Williams High School, Williamson joined the Academy in summer 2014, and during the fall led the U-18 team with 10 goals, starting all of the 11 games in which he featured.
