Pfeffer and Steffen called up to US Under-18 MNT

Chester, Pa. (The Phanatic Magazine) – Midfielder Zach Pfeffer and Philadelphia Union Academy member Zackary Steffen have been called up by the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team for an 11-day, foreign based training camp from September 6-17 in Mill, Netherlands.  The squad is scheduled to play an international friendly against the Netherlands on September 11 in Groesbeek, Netherlands.  

Coached by Javier Perez, the team travels to the Netherlands on September 7 and is also scheduled to play friendly matches against U-18 club teams representing Feyenoord Rotterdam, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge during the week.

Pfeffer, one of three professionals on the 20-player roster, signed as the Union’s first ever Homegrown player in 2010 and made his first official league appearance with the Union in 2011, starting in a 1-0 victory against the Columbus Crew on September 17. Pfeffer, 17, started again in the club's regular season finale against the New York Red Bulls.  Most recently, the Dresher, Pa. native captained the Union’s U-17 squad to the 2012 Generation adidas Cup.

Rated the top goalkeeper in the class of 2013 by ESPNHS, Steffen verbally committed to the University of Maryland earlier this year.  In addition to participating in Philadelphia's academy system and the Union’s Reserve League team, Steffen plays for Youth Development Affillate FC DELCO and has been a member of the US Youth National Teams since the age of 14.

U.S. U-18 MNT Roster By Position:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Ethan Horvath (Unattached; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zackary Steffen (Maryland; Downingtown, Pa.).

DEFENDERS (5): Michael Amick (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Suliaman Dainkeh (DC United Academy; Reston, Va.), Dylan Greenberg (Albertson SC; Dix Hills, N.Y.), Trevor Haberkorn (Solar Chelsea SC; Roanoke, Texas), Jalen Markey (Seattle Sounders FC Academy; Renton, Wash.).

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marco Delgado (CD Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Jacori Hayes (Baltimore Bays; Bowie, Md.), Piakai Henkel (Amiens FC; Arcata, Calif.), Kristian Scott (Stoke City, Winterbourne, England)

FORWARDS (7): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake Arizona; Rochester, N.Y.), Paul Arriola (LA Galaxy; Chula Vista, Calif.), Julian Green (Bayern Munich; Tampa, Fla.), Benjamin Lopez (Real Salt Lake Arizona; San Diego, Calif.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Ben Spencer Jr. (CD Chivas USA; Albuquerque, N.M.), Travis Wannemuehler (Indiana Fire Academy; Evansville, Ind.)