Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jon Kempin was named to the United States Under-18 National Team roster on Thursday for the Lisbon International Tournament in Lisbon, Portugal from May 19-29.
Kempin is one of two goalkeepers selected to the 20-player squad and will train under head coach Mike Matkovich as the team plays three matches against European competition. The United States opens the tournament against Netherlands on May 25th before taking on hosts Portugal one day later and concluding the tournament against Finland on May 28th.
Kempin has been a recent staple of the US youth national team system, beginning with his enrollment in US Soccer's prestigious U17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida. Since then, Kempin has featured for the U17, U18 and U20 Men's National Teams, most recently participating in the U18 National Team's training camp from April 16-24 in Portland, Oregon.
One of two Sporting Kansas City Home Grown Players, Kempin is in his second professional season after signing in August 2010. A product of the Sporting KC Juniors academy, he has continued to feature for the U-18 Juniors in U.S. Soccer Development Academy action this season.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jeff Gal (Sockers FC; Bartlett, Ill.), Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City; Leawood, Kans.).
DEFENDERS (7): Michael Ambrose (FC Dallas Academy; Frisco, Texas), Jack Coleman (FC Dallas Academy; Norman, Okla.), Bryan Gallego (New York Red Bulls Academy; Kinnelon, N.J.), Jordan McCrary (North Carolina; Marietta, Georgia), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Tigres; Riverside, Calif.), Boyd Okwuonu (FC Dallas Academy; Edmund, Okla.), Walker Zimmerman (Furman; Lawrenceville, Ga.).
MIDFIELDERS (7): Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake; Garden Grove, Calif.), Daniel Metzger (New York Red Bulls Academy; Holmdel, N.J.), William Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord, Mass.), Victor Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bollingbrook, Ill.), Alex Shinksy (Maryland; York, Penn.), Christopher Somerville (Baltimore Bays Chelsea; West Chester, Pa.), Wil Trapp (Crew Soccer Academy; Gahanna, Ohio).
FORWARDS (4): Villyan Bijev (Cal Odyssey; Fresno, Calif.), Luis Rendon (FC Richmond Magic; Chesterfield, Va.), Khiry Shelton (Lonestar SC; Leander, Texas), Jonathan Top (FC Dallas Academy; Ft. Worth, Texas)
