U.S. Men’s CP National Team Kicks Off 2023 Down Under With Two Matches Against Australia
Ten Players Return from 2022 IFCPF World Cup Roster, Including 2022 U.S. Soccer CP Male Player of the Year John Sullivan
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CHICAGO (Jan. 26, 2023) – The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy National Team will start 2023 with two matches against Australia at Cromer Park in Manly, Australia. Set for Feb. 2 and 4, the games are the first for the Men’s CP NT since the U.S. took fourth place at the 2022 IFCPF World Cup, its highest-ever finish at a world championship event in the sport’s modern era.
Head coach Stuart Sharp has called up 16 players for the trip down under. Both games will be played at Cromer Park, while the Feb. 4 match will be open to fans and broadcast in Australia on 10 Play.
U.S. MEN’S CP NATIONAL TEAM - AUSTRALIA FRIENDLIES
GOALKEEPERS (2): Sean Boyle (Minneapolis, Minn.), Hugo Komaransky (Miami, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (5): Drew Bremer (East Grand Rapids, Mich.), Joshua Brunais (Stafford, Va.), Chileshe Chitulangoma (Rochester, Minn.), Kyle Montgomery (Savannah, Ga.), Wesley Pincince (Dunbarton, N.H.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Ethan Haussmann (Oak Park, Ill.), Jacob Kaplan (Morganville, N.J.), Frankie Lowery (Ft. Collins, Colo.), Kevin McCandlish (Chesapeake, Va.), Jonah Meyer-Crothers (Sylvania, Ohio), John Sullivan (Tuscon, Ariz.)
FORWARDS (3): Jacob Crumbley (Fortson, Ga.), Shea Hammond (Montclaire, N.J.), Michael Ruiz (Gilroy, Calif.)
Ten players return from the Men’s CP NT’s World Cup squad, led by captain Joshua Brunais. There, the USA topped Australia 5-1 in the group stage to claim the top spot in Group C. Midfielders Jonah Meyer-Crothers and John Sullivan as well as forward Shea Hammond scored in the match for the U.S. After winning its group, the Men’s CP NT reached the semifinals of a world championship for the first time ever before falling to eventual champion and CP soccer powerhouse Ukraine. Sullivan was recently named 2022 U.S. Soccer CP Male Player of the Year, presented by Degree, for his strong defensive performance at the World Cup.
Goalkeeper Hugo Komaransky, defender Wesley Pincince plus midfielders Ethan Haussmann and Frankie Lowery will be looking to make their international debuts against Australia. It’s the Pararoos’ first home international match since 2019 following the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The CP MNT is for eligible qualifying players with Cerebral Palsy, stroke or traumatic brain injury. If you or someone you know qualifies for the Men’s CP National Team and plays at a high level, you can contact us via email at ExtendedNT@ussoccer.org for more information on potential playing opportunities.