SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham was named to the United States U-23 National Team roster for camp in Duisburg, Germany on Wednesday as head coach Caleb Porter works to establish a pool of players for 2012 Olympic qualifying. The Pleasanton, Calif. native will depart on Sunday to join Porter and 30 additional invitees to train from Nov. 7 to Nov. 16 at Sportschule Wedau, a German sporting school.
Porter’s goal for the camp is to evaluate players and create a pool of talent to draw from for the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament hosted by the United States in March of next year. The tournament field includes the U.S., Mexico and Canada as well as representatives yet to be determined from the Caribbean and Central America.
Bingham featured in one match as a rookie with the Earthquakes in 2011, a 2-1 win against the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. on Oct. 8. He made four saves in that match and recorded his first career assist after launching a ball off the turf 70 yards down field to set up a goal by Chris Wondolowski.
The Generation adidas goalkeeper also saw time in exhibition and Reserve League matches. Bingham started and kept a clean sheet for 45 minutes against West Bromwich Albion of the English Premier League on July 13 at Buck Shaw Stadium. He also scored a goal against the Baggies, a 90-yard strike off the grass that bounced over West Brom goalkeeper Boaz Myhill for San Jose’s first goal in a 2-1 win (Watch: www.sjearthquakes.com/binghamgoal). Bingham also started in two Quakes Reserve League games, compiling a 2-0-1 record with a 0.33 goals-against average and two shutouts.
The Earthquakes acquired Bingham in a weighted lottery by MLS on Jan. 25 after choosing to sign with the league following a trial with EPL side Fulham. The 6-foot-2 Bingham was a 2010 NSCAA All-American as a junior, registering eight shutouts in 20 matches (including the NCAA Tournament). He helped lead Cal to a 14-2-4 record and allowed just 17 goals in 2010, good for a 0.77 goals-against average. The Golden Bears fell to eventual NCAA Champion Akron in penalties in the quarterfinals.
As a sophomore in 2009, Bingham was named to the All-Pac-10 Second Team, posting four shutouts in 16 starts with a 0.95 goals against average. He also appeared in one game as a freshman while backing up current Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
A local product, Bingham played his club soccer for Mustang. His squad in 2007 reached the Super Y-League U-17 National Championships. Bingham was also a three-year varsity starter at California High School in San Ramon, Calif.
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (4): David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; Pleasanton, Calif.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.),
Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire, Lilburn, Ga.), Jon Kempin (Sporting KC; Leawood, Kans.)
DEFENDERS (9): Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt; Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Brooks (Hertha BSC; Berlin, Germany),
Sean Cunningham (Molde FK; Troy, Mich.), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers; Göppingen, Germany),
Greg Garza (Out of Contract; Grapevine, Texas), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United; Indianapolis, Ind.),
Will Packwood (Birmingham City F.C.; Concord, Mass.), Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA; Lancaster, Pa.), Ethan White (D.C. United; Kensington, Md.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Joe Corona (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Mikkel Diskerud (Stabæk; Oslo, Norway), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew; Montville, N.J.),
Jared Jeffrey (FSV Mainz 05; Richardson, Texas), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United F.C.; San Francisco, Calif.),
Tyrone McCargo (1. FC Nürnberg; Nürnberg, Germany), Charles Renken (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Edwardsville, Ill.),
Caleb Stanko (SC Freiburg: Holly, Mich.), Jose Villarreal (LA Galaxy; Inglewood, Calif.)
FORWARDS (9): Terrence Boyd (Hertha BSC; Berlin, Germany), Conor Doyle (Derby County FC; McKinney, Texas),
Josh Gatt (Molde FK; Plymouth, Mich.), Joe Gyau (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Silver Springs, Md.), Jerome Kiesewetter (Hertha BSC; Berlin, Germany),
Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; El Paso, Texas), Tony Taylor (Atlético Clube de Portugal; Jacksonville, Fla.),
Bobby Wood (TSV 1860 München; Irvine, Calif.), Andrew Wooten (1. FC Kaiserslautern; Worms, Germany)
