REAL SALT LAKE PAIR RECEIVES CALL FOR U.S. U-23 NATIONAL TEAM CAMP
Defender Aaron Herrera and Goalkeeper David Ochoa to Attend January Camp in Florida
HERIMMAN, UTAH (Tuesday, January 5, 2021) – Real Salt Lake’s Aaron Herrera and David Ochoa have been named to the United States U-23 National Team roster by Head Coach Jason Kreis for the upcoming January camp in Bradenton, Florida.
“With Olympic qualifying approaching quickly, this training camp is a great opportunity to prepare ourselves and evaluate some new faces,” Kreis said. “While 2020 was a very challenging year, it was impressive to see so many U-23-eligible players make major strides on the field. Some of them have been involved with the senior team over the last few months and it’s exciting to now get our players and staff back together in camp alongside Gregg (Berhalter) and his group as we prepare for a very important qualifying tournament.”
The call-up is the first in almost a year for Herrera who has become a staple at both the U-20 and U-23 national team levels. Prior to its cancelation, Herrera, was named to the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying roster and was on track to join the U.S. U-23 National Team in Tokyo for the summer Olympics.
At the U-20 level Herrera helped the United States lift its first-ever U-20 CONCACAF Championship and was on the squad that advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Herrera, 23, has been with Real Salt Lake as a Homegrown Player since 2018, appearing in 68 matches in his first three seasons as a professional. The 2020 Real Salt Lake Defender of the Year led the club with 1,706 minutes played and finished the season leading the team with 49 tackles and 43 dribbles completed and finishing second with 36 interceptions and nine blocks.
Ochoa, 19, received his first-ever call to the senior national team just two months ago as part of a 22-man training camp set to face El Salvador on December 9 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The young goalkeeper picked up an injury in the opening days of camp and saw the remainder of his time cut short prior to any match play. This is his first time with the U-23 side.
The Real Salt Lake Academy product signed with the first team prior to the 2019 season. He made his professional debut in 2018 with the Real Monarchs as an Academy call-up on April 22, 2018 before becoming a staple in goal for the Monarchs in 2019, where he helped the club to the 2019 USL Championship title. Ochoa made his Major League Soccer debut on November 8 in a 2-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City at Rio Tinto Stadium.
U-23 USMNT DETAILED ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB):
GOALKEEPERS (3): JT Marcinkowski (San Jose Earthquakes), David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake), Brady Scott (Austin FC)
DEFENDERS (10): Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy), George Bello (Atlanta United FC), Chris Gloster (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Aaron Herrera (Real Salt Lake), Aboubacar Keita (Columbus Crew SC), Henry Kessler (New England Revolution), Mauricio Pineda (Chicago Fire), Bryan Reynolds (FC Dallas), Miles Robinson (Atlanta United FC), Sam Vines (Colorado Rapids)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Hassani Dotson (Minnesota United FC), Bryang Kayo (Wolfsburg/GER), Andrés Perea* (Orlando City SC), Tanner Tessmann (FC Dallas), Eryk Williamson (Portland Timbers), Jackson Yueill (San Jose Earthquakes)
FORWARDS (7): Cade Cowell (San Jose Earthquakes), Daryl Dike (Orlando City SC), Jeremy Ebobisse (Portland Timbers), Jesús Ferreira (FC Dallas), Jonathan Lewis (Colorado Rapids), Benji Michel (Orlando City SC), Djordje Mihailovic (Montreal Impact/CAN)
