US Representative XI roster announced
Return leg of US-England series to be played at Blackbaud June 9
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
CHARLESTON, SC -- The US roster for the second US Representative XI versus England National Game XI match at Charleston's Blackbaud Stadium June 9 was announced today. The game will feature USL standouts from the A-League and Pro Soccer League (PSL), who will represent the United States versus the English Nationwide Conference All-Stars.
The inaugural game between these two sides was played in March of 2002 in Stevenage Borough, England. England won that game by a score of 2-1.
The initial roster consists of 12 A-League players and three PSL players. The host Charleston Battery and Rochester Raging Rhinos lead the way with three representatives while the the Virginia Beach Mariners and Charlotte Eagles each have two. As the game is considered a National Team representative match only US players were considered for selection. One more player is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Charlotte Eagles forward Dustin Swinehart and Richmond Kickers midfielder Mike Burke return to the squad from the team that played in the first leg.
Swinehart is joined by Eagles teammate Jacob Coggins. The scoring tandem have been tearing it up in the PSL so far this season. Swinehart is in the top 10 in goals scored with two, while Coggins leads the league in points with 18 on seven goals and four assists. Both players have made the PSL Team of the Week, with Swinehart appearing once while Coggins was honored three times, twice as the Player of the Week. Swinehart is also the only member of the team to have played in the first match-up of these two sides. Tim Karalexis of the defending champion Wilmington Hammerheads is the final PSL representative. Karalexis, a two-time All-American selection at Anselm College (MA), was a 2003 All-PSL selection as he co-anchored the defense that captured the championship.
Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock will backstop the US Representative XI. So far in the 2004 season, Hudock is in the top five in the league in shutouts with two, and is second in the league in saves with 41. The two-time A-League Goalkeeper of the Year (1997, 2002) has been with the Battery since 1999, including last year’s A-League title run. The other Battery representatives are midfielder Justin Evans and goalkeeper Chris Doyle.
Rochester forward Chris Carrieri was the first overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001. He went on to set a rookie scoring record after being traded to the Colorado Rapids later that year. He recorded 19 goals and 17 assists over his three year career. With the Rhinos, Carrieri is in the A-League’s top 10 in both points (with 6) and goals (with 2). Carrieri will be joined by Rhino’s defenders John Wilson and David Wright.
Virginia Beach forward Dante Washington has also donned a U.S. jersey at the highest level. Washington recorded two goals in six appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team between 1991 and 1997.
Minnesota midfielder Marco Ferruzzi has seen his share of success in the A-League, captaining the Richmond Kickers to the Final in 2002, and returning to the A-League’s final game again in 2003 in Charleston as a member of the Thunder. Playing in his seventh season in USL’s highest league, Ferruzzi will anchor the midfield for the US Representative XI.
The England National Game XI squad will feature the top professional players from the English Nationwide Conference and are managed by Paul Fairclough, who won the Vauxhall Conference with Stevenage Borough in 1996 and has also worked as Club Scout for Arsenal Football Club.
Charleston Battery Head Coach Chris Ramsey will coach the US side, and with Battery Assistant Coach Mike Anhaeuser as his number-two. Ramsey is in his third year at the helm of the Battery and has compiled an overall record of 41 wins, 14 losses and 18 ties. Ramsey led Charleston to the 2003 A-League Championship in his second year at the club.
Tickets Tickets for the US Representative XI vs England National Game XI match are priced at $8 - $15 and are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets please call (843) 971-GOAL or visit www.charlestonbattery.com.
US Representative XI Roster
| Pos |
Player |
Team (League) |
Hometown |
| F |
Chris Carrieri |
Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) |
Stafford, VA |
| F |
Jacob Coggins |
Charlotte Eagles (PSL) |
Charlotte, NC |
| F |
Dustin Swinehart |
Charlotte Eagles (PSL) |
Worthington, OH |
| F |
Dante Washington |
Virginia Beach Mariners (A-League) |
Manassas, VA |
| M |
Jeff Bilyk |
Virginia Beach Mariners (A-League) |
Bayport, NY |
| M |
Mike Burke |
Richmond Kickers (A-League) |
Jacksonville, FL |
| M |
Justin Evans |
Charleston Battery (A-League) |
Pittsburgh, PA |
| M |
Marco Ferruzzi |
Minnesota Thunder (A-League) |
San Antonio, TX |
| D |
Tim Karalexis |
Wilmington Hammerheads (PSL) |
Weymouth, MA |
| D |
Scott Schweitzer |
Syracuse Salty Dogs (A-League) |
Rahway, NJ |
| D |
John Wilson |
Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) |
Charleston, SC |
| D |
Alan Woods |
Atlanta Silverbacks (A-League) |
Atlanta, GA |
| D |
David Wright |
Rochester Raging Rhinos (A-League) |
Louisville, KY |
| GK |
Chris Doyle |
Charleston Battery (A-League) |
Dublin, CA |
| GK |
Dusty Hudock |
Charleston Battery (A-League) |
Phoenix, AZ |
|
