U.S. FUTSAL TEAM READY FOR FIRST-EVER HOME MATCHES

U.S. Futsal National Team Head Coach Keith Tozer has 17 players in training camp in Washington, D.C. this week in the team's first action in almost two years. The U.S. will be hosting their first-ever international futsal games on American soil when the team faces Canada on Wednesday, March 20, at 8 p.m. ET at UMBC (Baltimore, Md.), and Mexico on March 21 at American University (Washington, D.C.) at 7 p.m. ET. The training camp will mark the squad's first preparation for the 2004 Futsal World Championship, and first action since finishing third at the 2000 CONCACAF qualifying tournament in Costa Rica that prevented them from advancing to their fourth consecutive FIFA World Championship. "I am extremely excited about the upcoming camp in Washington D.C. and beginning our preparation for our trip to Belgium and future tournaments," said Tozer. The young U.S. squad features just seven players with previous international experience. Leading the way for the Americans are midfielder Ted Eck (Springfield, Ill.) with 10 goals in only 14 international appearances. Eck is also a veteran of the 1992 squad the captured the silver medal at the FIFA World Championship in Hong Kong. Forwards Bernie Lilavois (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) and defender Josh Timbers (Morganton, N.C.) all have five caps each, while defender Pat White (Milwaukee Wave-MISL) has three international appearances for the U.S. The Americans are no strangers to Mexico after defeating the Tri-Colores twice during the 2000 CONCACAF Tournament. After a hard-fought 3-2 win in the first game on July 25, 2000, the USA made it two in a row with a 5-1 victory in the second match, which was for the tournament's bronze medal, four days later (July 29). Prior to the match-up against Mexico, the USA will open the home stand against Canada in their first international meeting. Forward Mark Thomas, formerly of the Baltimore Blast of the MISL, is a late addition to Keith Tozer’s 17-man line-up. Thomas played four times for the squad in 1998.
U.S. Futsal National Team Training Camp Roster/
International Friendly vs. Canada, Mexico
March 17-22, Washington, D.C.

Goalkeepers
Dan Green, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Alex Rosenberg, 0 caps (World United FC - San Francisco, Calif.)

Defenders
John Ball, 2 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Steve Bernal, 0 caps (Milwaukee Rampage - A-League)
Troy Dusosky, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Chris Moorman, 0 caps (Harrisburg Heat - MISL)
Matt Tanzini, 0 caps (Harrisburg Heat - MISL)
Josh Timbers, 5 caps (Morganton, N.C.)

Midfielders
Ted Eck, 10 goals/14 caps (Springfield, Ill.)
Greg Howes, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Leighton O'Brien, 0 caps (Seattle Sounders - A-League)
Pat White, 3 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)

Forwards
Steve Butcher, 0 caps (Cleveland Crunch - MISL)
Dewayne Gilpatrick, 0 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)
Bernie Lilavois, 1 goal/5 caps (Far Rockaway, N.Y.)
Mark Thomas, 4 caps (Quincy, Ill.)
Johnny Torres, 1 goal/2 caps (Milwaukee Wave - MISL)

U.S. Futsal National Team Delegation
U.S. Futsal Federation President/CEO: Alex Para (Berkeley, Calif.)
Head Coach: Keith Tozer (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Assistant Coach: Vilmar Marques (Mountain View, Calif.)
Team Coordinator: Gary Lindsey (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Press Officer: Steven Torres (Chicago, Ill.)
Doctor: Dr. Bill Queale (Lutherville, Md.)
Trainer: Mike McCormick (Chicago, Ill.)