D.C. United announced today that defenders Perry Kitchen andEthan White have been called-up by the U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team to attenda training camp in Duisburg, Germany at sporting school Sportsschule Wedau.United players will join the U.S. Soccer Federation from November 7-16.
The D.C. United defenders join a roster of 29 other playerschosen by newly-appointed U-23 Head Coach Caleb Porter. The U-23 camp is takingplace at the same time the full Men’s National Team will be gathered in Franceand Slovenia. The United States’ senior team will take on France at Stade de France on November 11, followed by asubsequent friendly in Slovenia on November 15.
Both Kitchen and White have previous internationalexperience. Kitchen featured prominently for the U.S. U-20 National Team in2011, starting three matches and registering 270 minutes of action to help theteam reach the CONCACAF U-20 Championship Quarterfinals. The young defensivemidfielder was also the captain of the U.S. U-17 National Team residencyprogram and competed in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
Kitchen was selected by D.C. United in the first round(third overall) during the 2011 MLS SuperDraft on January 13, 2011. The formerUniversity of Akron player participated in 31 matches (30 starts) for Unitedduring his rookie campaign, registering one goal. Kitchen became the firstrookie in United’s 16-year history to lead the team in minutes played (2,726)during the 2011 season.
U.S. Soccer recently named Caleb Porter the Head Coach ofthe U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team. Porter will coach Kitchen once again, as thetwo worked together to help Akron claim the 2010 NCAA Championship.
Ethan White is currently part of the U.S. Youth NationalTeam player pool. In 2010, he was called-up to Thomas Rongen’s U.S. U-20 sideto participate in the prestigious Milk Cup in Northern Ireland, in which theU.S. lifted the trophy after defeating the host nation.
A graduate of D.C. United’s Youth Academy, White signed withthe first team on December 14, 2010. The young center back played a major rolein United’s defense during his first MLS season, playing 24 matches (21 starts)and tallying one goal in 1,928 minutes of action. Prior to signing with United,White started 20 matches to help the University of Maryland reach the NCAATournament in 2010.
