Sharp Calls 14 Players To Represent USA At 2019 Parapan American Games

CHICAGO (Aug. 13, 2019)—U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team head coach Stuart Sharp has selected the 14 players who will represent the United States at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru from Aug. 23-Sept. 1.

2019 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES ROSTER BY POSITION (HOMETOWN)

GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Boyle (Minneapolis, Minn.), Marc Estrella (Bakersfield, Calif.)

DEFENDERS (5): Andrew Bremer (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Joshua Brunais (Stafford, Va.), Jacob Crumbley (Fortson, Ga.), David Garza (San Diego, Calif.), Jacob Kaplan (Morganville, N.J.)

MIDFIELDERS (5): Adam Ballou (Virginia Beach, Va.), Tyler Bennett (Wadsworth, Ohio), Cameron DeLillo (Blandon, Pa.), Benjamin Lindau (Chicago, Ill.), Nicholas Mayhugh (Manassas, Va.)

FORWARDS (2): Shea Hammond (Upper Montclaire, N.J.), Seth Jahn (Lakeland, Fla.)

The U.S. enters the tournament with a No. 4 world ranking, its highest in program history. Thirteen of fourteen players return from the PNT’s World Cup roster. Goalkeeper Marc Estrella is the lone addition to the team.

The Parapan American Games are a 16-sport event for North and South America in the vein of the Paralympic Games. Six teams will compete in 7-a-side soccer: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and the USA. The nations will play each other in a round robin format before the top two finishers will meet for the gold medal and the teams placed third and fourth will play for bronze.

USA SCHEDULE – 2019 PARAPAN AMERICAN GAMES

Date	Match-Up	Kickoff (ET)	Venue
Aug. 24, 2019	USA vs. Colombia	2:30 p.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru
Aug. 25, 2019	USA vs. Venezuela	12:30 p.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru
Aug. 26, 2019	USA vs. Argentina	10:30 a.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru
Aug. 28, 2019	USA vs. Brazil	2:30 p.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru
Aug. 29, 2019	USA vs. Peru	10:30 a.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru
Aug. 31, 2019	Gold/Bronze Medal Matches	10:30 a.m./1 p.m.	Complejo Deportivo Villa Maria del Triunfo; Lima, Peru

Earlier this summer, the PNT won its group for the first time in major international competition at the 2019 IFCPF World Cup in Sevilla, Spain. Highlighted by a win against perennial powerhouse Iran, the PNT topped Finland and drew Ireland to claim the top spot in Group B at the World Cup. Missing a number of key players, the team dropped a tough quarterfinal to England before securing a sixth-place finish at the tournament.

In addition to host Peru, the Parapan field represents the top five finishers at last fall’s IFCPF Copa America, the regional championship for 7-a-side soccer in North and South America. The U.S. finished third at that tournament with a victory over Colombia. Twelve players return from the USA Copa America squad.

The USA has faced four of the five teams it will meet in Lima at least once so far during this competition cycle. Most recently, the U.S. took down Argentina in a placement game at the World Cup, winning 6-0 after falling 1-0 during the Copa America group stage. The U.S. defeated Venezuela during the Copa America group stage and topped Colombia in the third-place game 3-0.

Ranked No. 2 in the world, Brazil edged the USA 2-1 in the Copa America semifinals. In 2017, the U.S. took down Brazil in a thrilling 3-2 comeback win during the 2017 IFCPF World Championships placement stage.