1-DJ Countess —Starter on the U-17 team at the ’99 World Championships and the U-20 team at the 2001 World Youth Cup. Played brilliantly in the U-17 Cup. Made crucial blunder at the U-20s WYC by mishandling a Ukrainian free kick in the final minutes of the game prevented a US victory. Countess left UCLA after one season signing a Project-40 contract with MLS. Began his career as a backup to Tim Howard in New York, but later traded to Dallas where he got an opportunity to earn the starting position. Somewhat shaky in his only starting season the Burn finished last place, but named Defender of Year for Burn. Left Dallas for Chicago where he again found the bench. He’s recently been reunited with his former U-17 skipper John Ellinger (and keeper coach P Mellor) at Real Salt Lake, where he is expected to start.
Size at U-16: 6’0” 165
Current Size: 6’1” 185
Birthdate: 1-9-82
U-17 Intl Record: ‘99- 19gs/19gp; 1.21 gaa ‘98- 25/25; 1.16
U-20 Intl Record: ’00- 3/3; 1.33 ’01- 10/10; 1.10
U-23 Record: ’02- 5/5; 1.20 ’03- 7/7; 0.87 ’04- 3/3; 2.33
College Stats: 19/19; 1.02
MLS Career Stats: 1/1; 0.90 24/24; 1.97; 2/2; 2.00
2-Steve Cronin—A backup to Countess at the U-17 level and hailing from the same youth club. He toiled as the starter for the U-18 team for two seasons before earning the starting position at the U-20s and leading his team to the 2003 World Youth Cup. His superb shot stopping at the Youth Cup opened more than a few eyes and he was named All -Tournament. Also named top keeper at a U-20 tournament in Spain. Cronin spent three seasons at Santa Clara. The first two years at Santa Clara he was a partial starter at keeper earning Honorable Mention All-Conference his first year. Named All-WCC 1st team after his junior year. Signed to a Project-40 contract after junior year landing with the San Jose Earthquakes, but now part of LA Galaxy.
Size at U-16: 6’0” 150
Current Size: 6-2 195
Birthdate: 5-28-83
U-17 Record: ?
U-18 Record: ’00- 17/17; 0.70
U-20 Intl Record: 23/23; 1.23
College Stats: 10/10; 0.79 9/9; 1.32 18/18; 0.60
MLS Career Stats: none
3-Zach Riffett—A month into his U-17 career the US coaching staff at Bradenton had pegged him as someone that would compete for a spot on the National team down the road. Four months later he was out of the program and would never wear as US kit again. He’s currently a backup at Boston Univ.
Size at U-16: 6’2” 185
Current Size: 6’1” 215
Birthdate: 10-9-84
U-17 Record: 6/6; 1.00
College Stats: 6/7; 2.53 4/6; 2.25
MLS Career Stats: none
4-Adam Schuerman—He took over the starting position from Riffett on the U-17s in 2000 and never relinquished it. However, most U-17 observers weren’t exactly singing his praises after watching him fail to deal with a Jamaican corner kick in Concacaf qualifying. His play at the U-17s was probably not amongst the top 50% of keepers at the tournament. Schuerman played sparingly with the U-20s as Rongen favored Ford Williams as the top backup to Cronin. His college career has been solid at UCONN.
Size at U-16: 5’9” 180
Current Size: 5’10” 180
Birthdate: 6-14-84
U-17 Intl. Record: 18/18; 1.37
U-20 Intl Record: 2/3; 0.00
College Stats: 23/23; 0.95 18/18; 0.95 14/18;
MLS Career Stats: n/a
5-Ford Williams— Williams replaced Riffett in residency becoming the backup to Adam Schuerman on the U-17 team. He didn’t see any action in World Cup. He signed with North Carolina after his stint in Florida where he established himself as a starter. He beat out Schuerman as the backup to Cronin on the U-20s, but again wasn’t needed on the field at the WYC. As a soph he shared keeping duties at UNC with current U-20 pool GK Justin Hughes, but beat him out last year.
Size at U-17: 6-2 165
Current Size: 6-3 170
Birthdate: 2-20-84
U-17 Intl Record: 1/1; 0.00
U-20 Intl Record: 7/8; 1.45
College Stats: 17/18; 0.90 11/11; 0.85 17/17; 1.27
MLS: n/a
6-Phil Marfuggi—Started for U-17 National team for two years. His reactions and movement seemed a bit slow at the U–17 World Cup. He signed with Clemson where he’s received a majority of the starts his first two seasons, but is still in a weekly battle for the job. He only participated in one camp with the U-20s in 2003.
Size at U-16: 5-11 145
Current Size: 6-1 175
Birthdate: 1-5-86
U-17 Intl Record: 37/39; 1.15
U-20 Record: 2/2; 1.00
College Stats: 14/14; 1.37 12/12; 1.35
MLS: none
7- Adam Hahn—Spent one semester as a backup to Marfuggi at Bradenton. He just finished his first season at Harvard where he played very little.
Size at U-16: 5-10 140
Current Size: 5-11 160
Birthdate: 1-5-86 (yes same day as Marfuggi)
U-17 Intl Record: 1/1; 1.00
College Stats: 0/3; 5.80
MLS: none
8- Stephen Sandbo—Sandbo sat on the U-17 bench in Finland as the third keeper. He signed with SMU last season, but didn’t get much action behind an experienced keeper. Battling to be the starter with the U-18 National team.
Size at U-17: 6-1 175
Current Size: 6-2 190
Birthdate: 2-23-87
U-17 Intl Record: 4/9; 1.05
U-18 Record in ‘04: 8/8; 1.80
U-20 Record: 1/1; 0.00
College Stats: 3/6; 1.16
MLS: none
9- Marcus Rein—Rein has been competing with Sandbo on the U-17 and U-18 level for the past several years. Redshirted at Wake Forest in ‘04.
Size at U-17: 6-1 185
Current Size: 6-0 185
Birthdate: 1-27-88
U-17 Record: 11/12; 1.36
U-18 Record: 3/3; 1.00
College Stats: none
MLS: none
Current
10- Bryant Rueckner—The current starter on the U-17 team taking the job away from Newton last year. He’s apparently headed to UCLA after Bradenton.
Size at U-16: 5-11 145
Birthdate: 1-20-88
U-17 Intl Record: 14/14; 1.25
11- Evan Newton— The second choice keeper to Ruckener in the ’88 pool.
Size at U-16: 5-11 145
Birthdate: 4-1-88
U-17 Intl Record: 1/1; 1.00
12- Brian Perk-- Starting his second semester at Bradenton.
Size at U-16: 5-10 165
Birthdate: 7-21-89
U-17 Record: 0/1
13- Joe Bendik—Just added to the NT program.
Size at U-17: ?
Birthdate: ?
U-17 Record:
Biggest Miss:
Brad Guzan— Recently selected as the #2 pick in the MLS draft by Chivas USA and regarded as one of the best young keeper prospects in the nation. Started on the U-18 National team in 2003 (as overage player) before he went to South Carolina, but never got a chance with the U-20s who were ironically coached by current Chivas USA boss Thomas Rongen. Starred in the summer playing in the PDL with the Fire Reserves. Arguably could be have the brightest NT future of any keeper on this list. Listed in the Region II ODP pool from 2000-2003, but didn’t make the ODP teams that went to Cocoa during those years. Very few (sometimes none) kids born after July make those teams. You thought Bradenton had age-bias! The Regional teams are also filled with such a bias and that naturally trickles down to Bradenton since the majority of players are scouted playing ODP. Steve Kozeny (Univ of Ill-Springfield) and Matt Schlake (Indiana recruit no longer on IU roster) were the two keepers of choice on every Region II team from 2000-2002. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find birthdates for either player.
U-17 size: ?
Current Size: 6-4 210
Birthdate: 9-9-84
U-18 Intl Record: 4/4; 0.75
College Stats: 18/18; 0.96 20/20; 1.34
Could Doug Warren also be considered a "miss?"
Thanks Karl. Nope, Doug Warren isn't a miss because he was born in '81. The residency program started with the '82 class. Warren was also the starting keeper for the U-18s when the first residency class was at Bradenton. I'll attempt to do outside backs next.
Could Doug Warren also be considered a "miss?"
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