Both players were a part of the Cal Odyssey team that made it to the National Finals where they lost at the Home Depot Center to 2009 National Champion Derby County Wolves from Michigan. Shortly after Nathan Smith from Clovis, CA. was selected to the Residency program. In 2010 Cal Odyssey returned to the National Final where they again just fell short, this time in penalty kicks to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire Academy team. After his second year of performing at a high level in the prestigious US Soccer Development Academy, Daniel was officially selected to the National Team Program.

“We are absolutely ecstatic for this wonderful opportunity for Daniel”, stated Director of Coaching JJ Wozniak, “he has shown remarkable growth throughout the last four years and established himself as a top player in our country. He will represent our club and community very well not only as a soccer player but as a young man of tremendous character. He is deserving of this and we look forward to watching his career flourish.”

Daniel who resides in Fresno, CA. and was preparing to enter his junior year at San Joaquin Memorial High School will be leaving for IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. He began playing competitive soccer for the Central Valley Soccer Academy as a 9 year old. At the age of 12 he started playing for the California Odyssey Soccer Club where he was a part of two National Championship teams.

“I am looking forward to competing and playing with the top players from the United States” mentioned Daniel, “I will miss my family, friends, and teammates incredibly however I am prepared and anxious to move forward with the next stage in my career and fulfill my dream of representing our country in soccer.”

Started in 1999, the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program has become a symbol of US Soccer’s dedication to increasing the development opportunities for players and the success of the Youth National Teams. Wilmer Cabrera was appointed as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team on Oct. 25, 2007, joining the team from BW Gottschee in New York. He also served as the spokesperson for MLS Futbolito and Verano MLS, two programs aimed at grassroots development of soccer in the United States.

The U.S. players live on campus at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and train in the morning under the guidance of Cabrera. In the afternoon, the players attend classes at Bradenton Preparatory Academy. While in the full-time residency program, the US not only trains daily under Cabrera, but also has access to the IMG Academy’s spacious facilities. The team regularly uses IMG’s state-of-the-art strength-training facilities, as well as some of the nation’s best sports psychologists that work at the Academy. The IMG Academy includes top-of-the-line soccer equipment, three Bermuda grass fields, an indoor dome with artificial turf, two swimming pools, newly renovated student housing and dining facilities.

Noteable residency players: Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Kyle Beckerman, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Bobby Convey, Eddie Johnson, Oguchi Onyewu, Chad Marshall, Jonathan Spector and Josmer Altidore.