Whitecaps FC announce U-18 Residency roster for the 2016-17 season

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today the club’s U-18 Residency roster for the 2016-17 United States Soccer Development Academy (USSDA) season. The opening league match for the ‘Caps is on Saturday, September 3 on the road at Sacramento Republic FC.

Five provinces are represented on this year’s U-18 team. 15 players hail from British Columbia, three from Ontario, two from Alberta, one from Saskatchewan, and one from Manitoba.

Three players return from last season’s U-18 roster:

• Gloire Amanda (Edmonton, AB)
• Aidan Aylward (Orleans, ON)
• Patrick Metcalfe (Richmond, BC)

15 players move up from the U-16 roster:

• Nicolas Apostol (Coquitlam, BC)
• Theo Bair (Ottawa, ON)
• Michael Baldisimo (Burnaby, BC)
• Alan Camacho Soto (Burnaby, BC)
• Andres Charles-Barrera (Calgary, AB)
• Gabriel Escobar (Coquitlam, BC)
• Nicholas Fussell (Surrey, BC)
• Christopher Guerreiro (Coquitlam, BC)
• Jonas Hakkinen (Vancouver, BC)
• Joel Harrison (Langley, BC)
• Georges Mukumbilwa (Winnipeg, MB)
• Liam Robinson (Richmond, BC)
• Brendan Skinner (Surrey, BC)
• Terrell Smith (Coquitlam, BC)
• Noah Verhoeven (Surrey, BC)

Four new players enter the Residency program, including three from Whitecaps FC regional academy centres:

• Ethan Gopaul (London, ON – London Academy Centre)
  • READ: Coachability the key for Gopaul
• Connor Glennon (Vernon, BC – Okanagan Academy Centre)
  • READ: Glennon looking to make the most of his opportunity
• Thomas Hasal (Saskatoon, SK – Saskatchewan Academy Centre)
  • READ: Hasal following Levis’ path to success

The fourth newcomer is midfielder/striker Victory Shumbusho from Chilliwack, BC. 

Last season, the ‘Caps won the Northwest Division title and made a playoff run to the U-18 USSDA championship final for the second time in club history.

For more information on the Whitecaps FC Residency program, visit whitecapsfc.com/residency.