CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Grande Sports Academy’s Eric Carbajal, Jack Gayton, Damian German, Justen Glad, Jose Hernandez, Erik Holt, Adolfo Ovalle and Miles Stray were called up to various teams over the weekend, with six players suiting up for Real Salt Lake Reserves and the other two for the U-17 USMNT and U-20 Chilean National Team.
Carbajal, Gayton, German, Glad, Hernandez and Holt all took the field for the RSL Reserves in Sunday’s 0-0 draw against the Richmond Kickers (Video). Glad, German, Gayton and Hernandez started the match, while Holt came on as a substitute for German in the 57th minute and Carbajal relieved Abdoulie Mansally in the 79th minute. The next RSL Reserve League match is on Friday, July 25 at 5:00 PM against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Miles Stray received his first US National Team call up with the U-17 MNT. Stray was one of 38 players called up as a means of deciding who will go to the upcoming 2014 Nordic Open Cup Tournament and the third annual Copa de Mexico. The Nordic Open Cup takes place from July 24 – August 3 in Denmark, while the Copa De Mexico is held from July 30 – August 11 in Mexico City.
“Fito” Ovalle also received a first call up, his being with the U-20 Chilean National Team. “Luckily, I’ve been called up to the US a couple times,” said Ovalle. “But now that it’s Chile, it feels a little more special just because it’s where I’m from, it’s where I was born and it’s just kind of a dream come true.”
Chile is holding a U-20 camp in the US ahead of the 2014 NTC Invitational, a three-match tournament being held in Carson, California from July 14-18. The U-20 USMNT, Australia and Bermuda will join Chile in the tournament.
“Since I’ve been a little kid, it’s been a dream to hopefully represent Chile in some way,” said Ovalle. “Since it’s my first call up, it’s awesome, it feels like a dream come true being able to represent the same country that my dad once did.
“Ever since I moved here to RSL, I’ve noticed improvements throughout all my game. Just training here and the level of competitiveness every training session brings is something that I really appreciate and I know it’s gotten me to where I am now.”