COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (Friday, April 18, 2014) –Colorado Rapids Academy defender Sam Vines of Colorado Springs has been selected to the United States Under-15 Boys’ National Team for a the Delle Nazioni International Tournament in Italy. Vines, 14, is one of 18 players chosen by head coach Hugo Perez for the tournament, which runs from April 25 to May 1 in Gradisca d’Isonzo, Italy.
“It is great to see Sam selected for another U.S. group,” said Brian Crookham, the Rapids Senior Director of Youth Development. “These trips are incredibly valuable for Sam. Each time he is away with the U.S. he picks up experience that helps in his development both as a player and as a leader in our program.”
The U.S., which will play a friendly match against a to-be-determined opponent on April 23, is in Group C and opens tournament play against Slovenia on Friday, April 25. The team then plays Mexico on Saturday before concluding group play against China PR on Sunday.
The tournament fields two other four-team groups consisting of Brazil, Israel, Italy and Zambia in Group A, and Azerbaijan, Chile, Croatia and Japan in Group B. The three group winners and best second-placed team of the three groups advance to the tournament semifinals where the Group A winner meets the Group B winner, and the Group C winner faces the best second-placed qualifier on April 29. The tournament final will be played on May 1.
Vines has become a regular with the U.S. Under-15 team, and is one of 14 players on the roster who has participated in both the team’s trip to the United Arab Emirates in January and its domestic training camp in Carson, Calif., in March. A left back, Vines is the youngest player currently on the roster for the Rapids Under-16 Team playing in the Development Academy.
U.S. U-15 BNT SCHEDULE:
April 23 – U-15 BNT vs. TBD
April 25; 9:30 a.m. MT – U-15 BNT vs. Slovenia; Bilje, Slovenia
April 26; 9:30 a.m. MT – U-15 BNT vs. Mexico; Vipolze, Slovenia
April 27; 9:30 a.m. MT – U-15 BNT vs. China PR; Vipolze, Slovenia
April 29 – Tournament Delle Nazioni Semifinals
May 1 – Tournament Delle Nazioni Final
United States Boys’ National Team Roster for Delle Nazioni International Tournament by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Carlos Avilez (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Erik Lopez (LA Galaxy; Westminster, Calif.)
DEFENDERS (6): Jose Alfaro, Jr. (Monarcas Morelia; West Chicago, Ill.), McKay Eves (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City; Saddle River, N.J.), Gabe Kash (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Metro; Marshall, Ill.), Angel Uribe (Club Tijuana; Tijuana, Mexico), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids; Colorado Springs, Colo.)
MIDFIELDERS (4): Raul Aguilera, Jr. (Orlando City; Sanford, Fla.), Jose Carranza (D.C. United; Manassas, Va.), Jonathan Gonzalez (Monterrey; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Juan Pablo Torres (Georgia United; Lilburn, Ga.)
FORWARDS (6): Lucas Del Rosario (CASL; Durham, N.C.), Jeanpaul Marin (New York Red Bulls; Rego Park, N.Y.), Leonardo Marquez (Odyssey South; Visalia, Calif.), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State; South El Monte, Calif.) Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force; Livermore, Calif.), Hanif Wright (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.)
