NEW YORK (July 9, 2014) – Twenty of Major League Soccer’s top Homegrown players have been named to the inaugural Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster, which will compete against the Portland Timbers U-23s at Providence Park in Portland, as part of the festivities leading up to the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game. The game will kick off at 10 p.m. ET on Monday, August 4 and will be streamed live on WatchESPN and MLSsoccer.com. Fans can secure free tickets to the game by clicking here. Tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis and quantities are limited.
All MLS clubs were asked to nominate eligible players for the game, and based on availability, the final 20 were selected in consultation with MLS Director of Player Programs Alfonso Mondelo, who will coach the Homegrown team. Players representing 12 MLS clubs will make up this year’s Homegrown team, including Seattle Sounders FC defender DeAndre Yedlin who recently represented the U.S. at the World Cup in Brazil and Chicago Fire midfielder Harry Shipp who is currently a leading candidate for AT&T Rookie of the Year.
2014 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Roster
Goalkeeper:Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City), Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew)
Defenders:Connor Lade (New York Red Bulls), Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Karl W. Ouimette (Montreal Impact), Erik Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
Midfielders:Steven Evans (Portland Timbers), Wandrille Lefevre (Montreal Impact), Chris Ritter (Chicago Fire), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew)
Forwards: Caleb Calvert (Chivas USA), Bradford Jamieson IV (LA Galaxy), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
Bios for 2014 Chipotle Homegrown Team:
Caleb Calvert Forward Chivas USA Born: October 22, 1996
Scored seven goals in 12 games with the U-18 team this 2013-14 USSDA season; the youngest player to sign a professional contract in Chivas USA history
Steven Evans Midfielder Portland Timbers Born: September 19, 1991
The University of Portland product starred for the Timbers U-23s from 2009-2012 and helped the team win the 2010 PDL Championship; earned All-West Coast Conference honors in all three of his collegiate seasons.
Bradford Jamieson IV Forward LA Galaxy Born: October 18, 1996
The sixth player to be signed as a homegrown for the LA Galaxy, Jamieson IV has thrived with LA Galaxy II scoring five goals in 13 appearances. Named to the USL PRO Team of the Week on May 27 after scoring his first two goals as a professional for LA Galaxy II against OKC Energy FC; earned his second USL PRO Team of the Week honors on June 10.
Jon Kempin Goalkeeper Sporting Kansas City Born: April 8, 1993
Currently on loan with Sporting Kansas City’s USL PRO affiliate OKC Energy FC where he was named to the Team of the Week for week 12; member of the U.S. U20 men’s national team squad
Connor Lade Defender New York Red Bulls Born: November 16, 1989
Made four appearances for the Red Bulls this season after being a regular contributor to the team during their 2013 Supporter’s Shield run
Matt Lampson Goalkeeper Columbus Crew Born: September 6, 1989
Named the Crew’s 2013 Humanitarian of the Year; made 13 starts in goal for the Crew, recording five shutouts
Wandrille Lefevre Midfielder Montreal Impact Born: December 17, 1989
Made his MLS debut on April 27, 2013 against the Chicago Fire and recorded an assist in the 2-0 victory; played his way onto the field in 2014, starting and playing in a full 90 minutes in five consecutive games from May 10 – June 11.
Ashtone Morgan Defender Toronto FC Born: February 9, 1991
A solid presence left back since making his MLS debut in 2011; named the Canadian U20 Player of the Year in 2011
Sean Okoli Forward Seattle Sounders FC Born: February 3, 1993
Two appearances for the Sounders this season; scored in the team’s 5-0 win over PSA Elite in their U.S. Open Cup matchup
Shane O’Neill Defender Colorado Rapids Born: September 2, 1993
Has played in 41 of the last 43 Rapids matches for which he was eligible, starting all but two; scored his first career MLS goal against Montreal on 5/24/14
Karl W. Ouimette Defender Montreal Impact Born: June 18, 1992
Has nine appearances, including eight starts for the Impact; part of the lineup when Montreal won their second consecutive Amway Canadian Championship this year.
Erik Palmer-Brown Defender Sporting Kansas City Born: April 24, 1997
The youngest player in MLS history to start a regular season match as a defender; appeared in three games this season, including two starts
Chris Ritter Midfielder Chicago Fire Born: October 29, 1990
Made five starts for the Fire in his rookie campaign; named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors while at Northwestern
Dillon Serna Forward Colorado Rapids Born: March 25, 1994
Scored his first career goal on April 26, 2014 at Seattle; also has two assists in 13 appearances (8 starts) this season after debuting in the final regular season match of 2013.
Harry Shipp Midfielder Chicago Fire Born: November 7, 1991
MLS Player of the Week after scoring a hat trick in Chicago’s 5-4 win against New York in Week 10; leading Rookie of the Year candidate has tallied six goals and four assists in 15 games this season.
Russell Teibert Midfielder Vancouver Whitecaps FC Born: December 22, 1992
Had a breakout season in 2013 recording a team-high nine assists and scoring two goals while starting 19 of his 24 appearances.
Tommy Thompson Forward San Jose Earthquakes Born: August 15, 1995
First homegrown player in San Jose history; has tallied four assists in five appearances with the Earthquakes reserves in 2013.
Wil Trapp Midfielder Columbus Crew Born: January 15, 1993
Featured prominently for the Crew over the last two seasons, starting all 29 games in which he’s played; member of the U.S. U-20 men’s national team, played in all three group matches at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and was named U.S. Soccer’s 2013 Young Male Athlete of the Year.
DeAndre Yedlin Defender Seattle Sounders FC Born: July 9, 1993
Regular starter for Seattle, he is the first MLS homegrown player to play for the U.S. in a World Cup; recently helped the U.S. national team advance to the Round of 16
Gyasi Zardes Forward LA Galaxy Born: September 2, 1991
A versatile attacking player, Zardes has tallied three goals and one assist over 12 appearances in his second year with the LA Galaxy.
Should any of these players be selected to the game day roster for the 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star game, then that player would not participate in the Homegrown game.
ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Steve Ells, founder, chairman and co-CEO, started Chipotle with the idea that food served fast did not have to be a typical fast food experience. Today, Chipotle continues to offer a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls (a burrito without the tortilla) and salads made from fresh, high-quality raw ingredients, prepared using classic cooking methods and served in a distinctive atmosphere. Through our vision of Food With Integrity, Chipotle is seeking better food from using ingredients that are not only fresh, but that—where possible—are sustainably grown and Responsibly Raised™ with respect for the animals, the land, and the farmers who produce the food. In order to achieve this vision, we focus on building a special people culture that is centered on creating teams of top performers empowered to achieve high standards. This people culture not only leads to a better dining experience for our customers, it also allows us to develop future leaders from within. Chipotle opened with a single restaurant in 1993 and currently operates more than 1,650 restaurants including six ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants, and is an investor in an entity that owns and operates one Pizzeria Locale. For more information, visit Chipotle.com.
