Five contestants taken from the weekend’s tryouts in Los Angeles have been selected for Sueño MLS 2010, capping the 15-player field for the four-day final event beginning on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles qualifiers will compete against five each from the respective Houston and Chicago tryouts held last month, with the winner of the annual showcase announced on Sunday on the nationally-televised República Deportiva.
More than 1,500 total athletes showcased their skills in front of MLS scouts over the course of the three tryouts.
The players who will represent Los Angeles in the Sueño MLS Finale from May 5 through May 9 are:
Dennis Alvarado – A 16 year-old midfielder from Fairfield, Calif., this winger is of Salvadoran descent and was noted for both his versatility and speed.
Javier Castro – Perhaps the most technical player of the bunch, the 18 year-old Castro is of Mexican heritage but hails from nearby Pomona, Calif.
Victor Jimenez – The third Sueño MLS finalist from Anaheim, Calif., this 16 year-old forward has never played club soccer before. He was named All-CIF Division III First Team in March, representing Anaheim Savanna High School.
Jonathan Navas – Versatility and ability to distribute are the calling cards for this 18 year-old midfielder, who was born in San Salvador. He attends Los Angeles High School.
Oscar Velazquez – The youngest of the group, Velazquez is the third finalist hailing from Las Vegas, following in the steps of 2009 finalist Javier Rodriguez and 2008 finalist Daniel Sanchez. Velasquez is of Mexican descent and reached the finals due to his technical skills and versatility.
The players who will represent Chicago in the Sueño MLS Finale from May 5 through May 9 are:
Oscar Barraza: The 16-year-old Mexican-American midfielder from Elgin, Illinois advanced to the Sueño MLS Finale one year after being cut after two rounds into the same competition. He’s a junior at Glenbard East High School.
Juan Celleri: The freshman at Lane Tech in Chicago is originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He is a 15-year-old forward who can also play on the flanks.
Vicente Jaramillo: The resident of Detroit, Michigan made the 4.5 hour drive to the tryouts in Chicago. The 16-year-old is a native of Laredo, Mexico and is a sophomore at Western International High School in Michigan.
Erick Jimenez: The sophomore from Nicholas Senn High School is considered by scouts as one of the top defenders to emerge from the Chicago tryouts. The 15-year-old Mexican-American is the nephew of a Puebla FC hero from the club’s first title in 1982: Luis Enrique Fernandez.
Miguel Moncada: The Honduran-American was an offensive machine in the Chicago trials. The 18-year-old resident of Jackson, Tennessee made the eight hour drive to Chicago and camped out in his car between trial dates. He is a junior at Jackson Central-Merry High School.
The players who will represent Houston in the Sueño MLS Finale from May 5 through May 9 are:
Nelson Castro: The 14-year-old defender from Houston is a Salvadoran-American and currently attends the 9th grade at Eastwood Academy.
Juan Contreras: A 16-year-old left-footed midfielder who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico but resides in Dickinson, Texas. He is a junior at Dickinson High School.
Eric Martinez: The 15-year-old freshman from Dekaney High School in Houston is a Mexican-American forward who was an ODP (Olympic Development Program) selection. His older cousin played for the reserve team of Mexican club Puebla.
Marco Ortiz:A 15-year-old playmaker who has attracted a great deal of attention at the Houston tryouts. The Mexican-American from Crowley, Texas, is a 9th grader and member of the student council at Crowley High School.
Lorenzo Salazar: The 15-year-old midfielder from Houston recently participated in the Dallas Cup. He is a freshman at Austin High School and says he was offered a trial by Mexican club Tigres.
