USSoccer.com Release
CHICAGO, Ill. --- Former University of Portland goalkeeper Luis Robles has been invited to participate in his first training camp with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Robles, along with fellow camp invitee Erich Lichaj, will be training with the roster of 24 players who are preparing for two upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras.
The U.S. will be seeking its first-ever victory away to Costa Rica when they meet at Estadio Saprissa in the fourth match of the 10-game final round of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Kickoff on June 3 is set for 7:00 p.m. Three days later, the city of Chicago will host its first World Cup qualifier when the U.S. welcomes Honduras to Soldier Field. More than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the 5:00 p.m. match.
Robles, who plays with Kaiserslautern of the Bundesliga, and Lichaj of Aston Villa’s reserves will not appear on the twenty-three man roster for either of the matches, according to US Soccer.
Robles, a four-year starter at UP (2003-06), is the program’s all-time saves leader with 346 stops. His 21 career shutouts rank third all-time at Portland, while his 1.18 career goals-against average ranks eighth. A three-time First Team All-West Coast Conference selection, Robles was named the 2006 WCC Defensive Player of the Year.
Fellow UP alum Heath Pearce (2002-04), who has nine starts during the 2010 qualifying campaign, was also named to the roster.
The U.S. team will begin assembling on May 26 in Miami, Fla., and depart June 1 for San Jose, Calif.
