ATLANTA – U.S. Soccer announced on Thursday rosters for the U-18, U-19 and U-20 Men's National Team combined training camp, with Portland Pilots midfielder Christian Mendoza making the U-20 roster. Two incoming Pilots also made a roster, with Eric Izoita making the U-19 roster and Kruz Held joining the U-18 roster.
The camp runs from Jan. 10-16 down in Mesa, Ariz. on the Arizona Athletic Grounds. Mendoza is the first Pilot under head coach Nick Carlin-Voigt to be named to a U-20 national team camp. Benji Michel earned a U.S. Men's National Team cap in 2021 as well with the senior squad.
Mendoza was stellar with the Pilots in his first year of action on The Bluff. Mendoza played in 12 games with four starts, tallying a goal and two assists in the midfield for Portland. His lone goal came against Lewis & Clark, and his second assist led to the game-winning goal against the Denver Pioneers. Mendoza earned All-WCC Freshman Team honors. He is one of 14 collegiate players to have earned the opportunity.
Both Izoita and Held will join the Pilots in the fall of 2026. Izoita is a local midfielder out of Vancouver, Wash. Izoita has come up through the Timbers academy, playing 21 games with 14 starts in the midfield for Timbers2 in 2025. He notched two assists as well. Izoita earned an invitation to the U-19 camp back in September as well. Held, a defender our of Naperville, Ill., is a Chicago Fire Academy product who played with Chicago Fire II in 2024 in MLS NextPro for four games.
The Pilots put together one of the best seasons in program history this year. Their 14-2-4 record gave them their best winning percentage since 1988 (.800) and helped them earn the 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It's the third time in program history the Pilots have earned the first-round bye and the second time under Carlin-Voigt. They advanced to the Elite Eight for the second time under Carlin-Voigt and third time since 1995.
They were one of the best teams statistically this season, ranking third in assists (56), fourth in assists per game (2.75), fifth in goal differential (31), sixth in win-lost-tied percentage (.800) and team goals-against average (.624), seventh in points (142) and points per game (7.05), 12
th in total goals (43) and 13
th in goals per game (2.15). Their 56 assists broke a program record set two years prior.
Portland Head Coach Nick Carlin-Voigt on Mendoza's selection:
"What a tremendous honor for Christian Mendoza to be called into his first ever USA national team camp. Christian is a local Portland product and Oregonian who had a tremendous freshman year and was a big part of our success this fall. Being selected as one of the few college players in the entire country for our U20 national team domestic camp is an incredible accomplishment for both our program and Christian and the best is ahead for him. "
Carlin-Voigt on Izoita's selection:
"Eric is a top footballer with an exceptional soccer IQ and a relentless competitive spirit. He was my favorite player in his class and, in my opinion, the most complete player on the West Coast in his graduation year. A true PNW product, Eric was raised locally and has deep roots in the Portland soccer community. For me, he is the best deep-lying midfielder in the country and has a very bright future here on the Bluff and beyond."
Carlin-Voigt on Held's selection:
"We are excited about Kruz's continued development as he grows and progresses. He is a high-character individual off the field and will be a great addition to our culture. He plays the game the right way and comes from a strong Chicago Fire development system. Kruz has the versatility to play as an attacking wingback on either side within our system. We are thrilled to welcome him to Portland. Congratulations as well on being selected for the U-18 U.S. Men's National Team Camp."
Get Your Tickets Now!
Secure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting
PortlandPilots.com/Tickets or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. For group and fan experience package information, email
pilotsboxoffice@up.edu.
Donate Today
Fans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by
clicking here. Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level – on and off the field - in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics. All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.
Follow Along With the Action
Get the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting
PortlandPilots.com. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on
Twitter, liking us on
Facebook, and following us on
Instagram.
