University of North Carolina Athletics
Schuler Opens CONCACAF U-20 Championships Friday
March 4, 2009 | Men's Soccer
March 4, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina forward Billy Schuler will compete for the United States in the 2009 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, from March 6-15 in Trinidad & Tobago. The tournament will qualify four teams to the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, which will take place from Sept. 24-Oct. 16 in Egypt.
Schuler, who claimed a spot on Soccer America's Freshman Team of the Year first team, tallied four goals and five assists for the Tar Heels, who reached the finals of the NCAA College Cup. Sheanon Williams, who left UNC after his freshman season, is also on the 20-man squad.
The U.S. met in Bradenton, Fla., on Feb. 24 for five days of training before traveling on March 2 to Bacolet, Tobago, site of the USA's three group games. The U-20s will have four days of final preparation leading into the opening game of the tournament.
A total of eight teams will compete in the CONCACAF event, which is being held in a championship format for the first time since 1996. The U.S. was drawn into Group A for the tournament along with El Salvador, Jamaica and either Honduras or St. Vincent & the Grenadines. Group B includes Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the U-20 World Cup. The top two teams will also move on to the semifinals of the regional championship, which will be played on March 13 at Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya, Trinidad. The third-place match and final will be played on March 15 at the same location.
The U.S. will open its qualifying campaign on Friday, March 6, taking on Jamaica at Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago at 7 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET). Rongen's squad will face either Honduras or St. Vincent & the Grenadines on March 8 at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. ET) and round out group play against El Salvador on Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. ET).
