FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England Revolution Academy players Daniel Jones and Justin Rennicks have been called in to the U.S. Under-18 National Team by head coach Omid Namazi. Jones and Rennicks are two of 28 players participating in a domestic training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. from Jan. 23-30.
While in camp, the U-18s will play scrimmages against the U.S. U-17 squad, which is currently in Residency at IMG Academy. The games will provide opportunities for the U-18s to prove themselves against a talented and cohesive side. The camp as a whole will provide supplemental player development to the players in the pool outside of their club environments.
Jones and Rennicks were both in action for the U-18s in the team’s most recent competition, the Vaclav Jezek Tournament, which took place in the Czech Republic from Aug. 10-21, 2016. At the conclusion of the camp, the U-18s’ next meeting will be a domestic camp in March when the team will begin preparations for the Slovakia Cup, set to take place in April in Trnava, Slovakia
Jones, who plays primarily as an attacking left back, is in his fifth year with the Revolution Academy, having joined ahead of the 2012-13 season. A native of West Hartford, Conn., he has made 101 appearances with the Academy, tallying 14 goals and 10 assists in that time. Jones, 17, is making his fourth U.S. Under-18 National Team camp appearance. He has previously been called in to three U.S. Under-16 camps and tournaments, before advancing to the U.S. U-18s for the Open Nordic Cup in June 2015, followed by training camp in Carson, Calif. in October 2015.
Rennicks, a pacey forward, has made 107 appearances in five seasons with the Academy. The South Hamilton, Mass. native has scored 38 goals and added 25 assists since joining the Academy ahead of the 2012-13 season. The two-time UnitedHealthcare Academy Player of the Year was called in to the U-18s four times in 2016. The 17-year-old has tallied either a goal or an assist in each National Team tournament in which he has taken part, most recently scoring for the U.S. U-18s in the first match of the 2016 Vaclav Jezek Tournament. In February 2016, Rennicks trained with the Revolution first team during preseason in Tucson, Ariz.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Trey Muse (Seattle Sounders; Tukwila, Wash.), Alec Smir (NC Fusion; Greensboro, N.C.)
DEFENDERS (10): Jose Alfaro (Chicago Fire: West Chicago, Ill.), Jonathon Esparza (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Daniel Jones (New England Revolution Academy; West Hartford, Conn.), Jack Maher (Scott Gallagher; Caseyville, Ill.), Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; Bear, Del.), Jake Morris (Seattle Sounders; Kirkland, Wash.), Stirling Russell (Seattle Sounders; Colorado Springs), Aedan Stanely (St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC; Columbia, Ill.), Angel Uribe (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif), Aristotle Zarris ( LA Galaxy; Casa Grande, Ariz.)
MIIDFIELDERS (7): Abdi Faris (IMG Academy; Bradenton, Fla.), Christian Cappis (Texans SC Houston; Katy, Texas), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Andrew Paoli (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Brian Perez (Club Tijuana; San Diego, Calif.), Brandon Servania (FC Dallas; Brimingham, Ala.), Noah Verhoeven (Vancouver Whitecaps; Surrey, B.C)
FORWARDS (8): Shaft Brewer (FC Dallas; Sacramento, Calif.), Griffen Dorsey (Colorado Rush; Evergreen, Colo.), Ernesto Espinoza (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Will Inalien (Portland Timbers; Taramac, Fla.), Justin McMaster (Philadelphia Union; King of Prussia, Pa.), Alfred Perez (Weston FC; Miami, Fla.), Emanuel Perez (CASL; Garner, N.C.), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution Academy; Hamilton, Mass.)
