FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Four New England Revolution Academy players have been called in to U.S. Youth National Teams. Revolution Under-16 defenders Calvin Aroh and Daniel Jones, as well as forward Justin Rennicks, have been called in to the U.S. Under-16 Boys’ National Team for the Netherlands International Tournament. That competition, which is being held in Rotterdam, will run from March 7-16. Additionally, Under-14 defender Connor Haskell has been called in to the U.S. Under-15 Boys’ National Team for a week-long camp held over the same week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“This is another terrific opportunity for all of the players to prove themselves at the highest level - we are pleased for each of them,” Revolution director of youth development Bryan Scales said. “The process of becoming a top player never stops, and each of these players understands that. The privilege to represent the New England Revolution and U.S. Soccer comes with high expectations – both on and off the field – that I know each of these young men will meet.”
The U.S. U-16s, who will be coached by Shaun Tsakiris and Luchi Gonzalez, are set to face the Republic of Ireland on March 11, before facing the Czech Republic two days later and finishing up the tournament against the Netherlands on March 15.
Aroh, whose only previous national team experience came in a week-long Under-14 camp in August 2013, is currently in his second season with the Revolution Academy. The Glastonbury, Conn. native has made 14 appearances with the U-16s so far in the 2014-15 season and has played every minute of every game he has appeared in. The 16-year-old defender, who split time between the Revs’ U-14s and U-16s last season, has made nine starts in league play while adding a further five starts for the Revolution at the Generation adidas Cup, which is Major League Soccer’s annual elite youth tournament for U-17 academy teams.
Jones, who plays as an attacking left back, has played 12 games for the Revolution’s Academy teams in the 2014-15 season. Now in his third season with the Revs’ Academy, the 16-year-old has made nine starts with the Under-16 team in league play, tallying two assists, which leave him tied for second on the team. A native of West Hartford, Conn., Jones has also made one start with the Revolution Under-18 team this season while making two appearances for the Revolution at the Generation adidas Cup.
This is the third time that Jones has been called into the Under-16 U.S. Boys’ National Team. He was called in to a week-long training camp held in Clairefontaine, France in November 2014 where the U.S. U-16s faced the Paris Saint-Germain Academy and France’s U-16s. Jones was also called in to the U.S. U-16s for the 2015 Aegan Cup International Youth Tournament which was held in Manisa, Turkey in January, but withdrew due to an injury.
Forward Rennicks, who recently returned from a week of training with the Revolution’s first team in Tucson, Arizona, is currently in his third season with the Revolution Academy. The South Hamilton, Mass. native was also called in to the U.S. U-16 Boys’ National Team in January for the 2015 Aegan Cup International Youth Tournament. Rennicks returned from that tournament having appeared in all three of the U-16s’ games, and added a game-winning goal in the U.S.’ 2-0 win against Romania.
Rennicks, who scored a combined 20 goals for the Revolution Academy teams in his first two seasons, has made 15 appearances in the 2014-15 season. The 15-year-old has made 10 appearances, including nine starts, for the Revolution’s Under-16 team in league play, scoring one goal and tallying a team-high four assists. He has also made five appearances for the club at the Generation adidas Cup.
While Aroh, Jones and Rennicks will travel to Europe, Haskell will head south to Florida for a week of training with the U-15 National Team.
“Connor has made significant progress and has worked hard for this opportunity,” Scales said. “He has good training habits and has been able to put together some very good performances with our U-16s in U.S. Soccer Development Academy matches and the U-17 Generation adidas Cup.”
Haskell is currently in his second season with the Revolution Academy, having joined the Revs’ Under-14 side ahead of the 2013-14 season. The 14-year-old has made 13 appearances for the Revolution Academy this season, splitting his time between the U-14s and U-16s. Originally from Medfield, Mass., Haskell has made seven appearances for the U-14s, scoring one goal and adding an assist. He has also made four appearances for the U-16s in league play, recording an assist, while making two appearances in the Generation adidas Cup.
