Michael Gavin |
CHICAGO, Ill. --- Former Portland Pilots defender/midfielder Michael Gavin is one of 22 players named to the U.S. U-23 National Team, which is preparing to travel to Toulon, France, for the Toulon International Tournament later this month. Gavin, who is currently in senior development with the L.A. Galaxy of Major League Soccer, concluded his collegiate career on The Bluff last fall.
The team will arrive in Toulon on Thursday, May 15, and will have five days of training before its opening match against Turkey on May 21 at 3:30 p.m. local (6:30 a.m. Pacific). All 16 games of the tournament will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel, including the U.S. Group B match-ups against the Ivory Coast on May 23 at 6:30 p.m. (9:30 p.m.), and Italy on May 25 at 6 p.m. (9 p.m.).
“This tournament will give us an opportunity to have a look at some players we have had in previous camps, and also a look at the new faces,” said Nowak. “We don’t want to be short-sighted with our selection for the Olympics. We want a whole picture that includes a variety of players, and to make sure we see every option before we make final choices.”
Group A of the tournament features France along with Chile, the Netherlands and Japan. The top two teams in each group will advance to the semifinals on May 27, and either the third-place match or final on May 29.
Overall, the U.S. has made seven previous trips to the invitation-only event, with their most recent appearance dating back to 2001 when the team finished in fifth place. In 1989 the team finished in a best-ever third place, and in 1994, 1997 and 2001 received the Fair Play Award. Josh Wolff is the only American to earn an individual award at the tournament, earning the Golden Boot by scoring five goals in 1997, outscoring future FIFA World Cup winner Thierry Henry.
The U.S. U-23’s will be participating in their 13th Olympic Games this summer, earning their place by advancing to the final of CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying in March. The Americans finished the tournament with a 3-1-1 record, with their only loss coming to Honduras in overtime of the championship match.
Gavin, a four-year starter for the Pilots, finished his career with four goals, four assists and two game-winners. He was named to the All-WCC Second Team last fall and was the WCC’s Freshman of the Year in 2004. Last season, Gavin scored twice, handed out three assists and tallied one game-winner as Portland advanced to the NCAA postseason for the first time since 2004. He appeared in two games and made one start for the Galaxy this season.
Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake), Quentin Westburg (Troyes)
DEFENDERS (10): Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Eric Brunner (out of contract), Kyle Davies (Southampton), Michael Gavin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Kamani Hill (Vfl Wolfsburg), Jonathan Leathers (Kansas City Wizards), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Julian Valentin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Rob Valentino (New England Revolution), Blake Wagner (FC Dallas)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Bryan Arguez (Hertha Berlin), Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), Greg Dalby (SC Charleroi), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Lee Nguyen (Randers FC)
FORWARDS (4): Gabe Ferrari (Sampdoria), Bryan Jordan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Ellis McLoughlin (Hertha Berlin), Sammy Ochoa (Tecos)
