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Velela, Calvillo Selected to United States U-19 Roster for 2016 Slovakia Cup

The Cosmos’ two American youth internationals will represent their country overseas later this month.
Published Apr 15, 2016

New York Cosmos defender Alexis Velela and midfielder Eric Calvillo have been called in by the United States Under-19 Men’s National Team to compete in the 2016 Slovakia Cup.

The tournament, which runs from April 20-29, consists of eight teams separated into two groups. The U.S. U-19s will compete in Group B with Georgia, Ukraine and the host nation. They’ll open their tournament on April 25 against Georgia in Modranka.

Russia, Norway, Macedonia and the Czech Republic will compete against one another in Group A, with the top performing team from each group advancing to the tournament final, scheduled for April 29 in Myjava.

Velela, 17, and Calvillo, 18, have each figured prominently in the U.S. youth national team picture since the U-15 age group. Both were selected to the team that competed at last year’s U-17 World Cup in Chile, along with former Cosmos forward Haji Wright. This past January Calvillo captained the U-19s at the Copa del Atlantico tournament in Spain.

U.S. U-19 coach Brad Friedel has assembled a 20-player squad for the 2016 Slovakia Cup. See the full roster – organized by position – below.

GOALKEEPERS: Benn Diaz (Queretaro; Los Angeles, Calif.), Ben Hale (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas)

DEFENDERS: Hugo Arellano (LA Galaxy; Norwalk, Calif.), Danny Barbir (West Bromwich Albion; Allentown, Pa.), Marlon Fossey (Fulham FC; Surbiton, England), Nabilai Kibunguchy (Sacramento Republic; Sacramento, Calif.), Hector Montalvo (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Alexis Velela (New York Cosmos; San Diego, Calif.)

MIDFIELDERS: Eric Calvillo (New York Cosmos; Palmdale, Calif.), Pierre Da Silva (Orlando City SC; Port Chester, N.Y.), Luca De La Torre (Fulham FC; San Diego, Calif.), Sebastien Des Pres (RSL Arizona; San Diego, Calif.), Ander Egiluz (Athletic Bilbao; Getxo, Spain), Nelson Hunsinger (Leg A-Z; Mary Esther, Fla.), Weston McKinnie (FC Dallas; Little Elm, Texas)

FORWARDS: Colby Agu (Capital Area Railhawks; Cary, N.C.), Ernesto Espinoza (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif.), Joe Gallardo (Unattached; San Diego, Calif.), Brandon Vazquez (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Isaiah Young (PDA; Berlin, N.J.)