VANCOUVER, BC – Major League Soccer announced the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster today, including Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielders Russell Teibertand Kianz Froese.
The MLS Homegrown Team will face Club América’s U-20 squad in the second-annual version of the contest, which is part of the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Week in Commerce City, Colorado. The match will be held on July 28 at 6 p.m. PT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and will be streamed live on MLSsoccer.comas a prelude to the 2015 AT&T MLS All-Star Game, which will see MLS's best battle English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on July 29.
Teibert, 22, who started in last year's inaugural MLS Homegrown Game, joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program in 2008 and has been a member of the club ever since. The Niagara Falls, Ontario native, who was named the Canadian U-17 Player of the Year in both 2008 and 2009, signed a Homegrown contract prior to the club's inaugural MLS season in 2011. Over the past five MLS seasons, Teibert has appeared in 83 MLS matches, recording two goals and 12 assists. The 5-foot-8 midfielder has also earned 17 caps with the Canadian senior men's national team, scoring a goal in the 2-0 win over Dominica in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last month.
Teibert, who just recently returned from competing for Canada at this month's 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, has appeared in 15 MLS matches this season, starting 10 of them. He recorded the game-winning assist in the 'Caps 1-0 road win at Real Salt Lake on April 18.
The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Froese has been with the club since joining the Residency program in 2012. The Brunkild, Manitoba product started 40 of his 46 appearances and scored 15 goals for Whitecaps FC U-18 in the United States Soccer Development Academy. The athletic 19-year old, who signed a Homegrown MLS contract on September 15, 2014, has also been called into Canada’s senior men’s national team camp twice.
The Cuban-born Froese has made sevenMLS appearances this season, highlighted by his game-winning goal on the road versus New York Red Bulls last month. He made back-to-back appearances for the club over the weekend, coming in as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw at Portland Timbers on Saturday, before scoring a goal for Whitecaps FC 2 versus Timbers 2 on the following day in USL action. The versatile midfielder will be lining up at the forward position for the Homegrown match.
Froese scores his first MLS goal versus New York Red Bulls
MLS Homegrown Team head coach Landon Donovan selected the 22-man roster from a pool of Homegrown Players nominated by all 20 MLS teams.
Due to 2015 AT&T All-Star Game selections, the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament, and other potential conflicts, the 2015 Chipotle MLS Homegrown Game roster is subject to change.
Teibert and Froese will be joining teammate David Ousted in Colorado, after the goalkeeper was selected to the 2015 MLS All-Star gameday roster on Saturday.
2015 MLS Homegrown Team Gameday Roster
Goalkeepers: Matt Lampson (Columbus Crew SC), Jesse Gonzalez (FC Dallas)
Defenders: Justen Glad (Real Salt Lake), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Eric Palmer-Brown (Sporting Kansas City), Jalen Robinson (D.C. United), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy), Tyler Turner (Orlando City SC)
Midfielders: Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake), Jay Chapman (Toronto FC), Sean Davis (New York Red Bulls), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union), Memo Rodriguez (Houston Dynamo), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Harry Shipp (Chicago Fire), Ben Swanson (Columbus Crew SC), Russell Teibert (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Alex Zendejas (FC Dallas)
Forwards: Coy Craft (FC Dallas), Kianz Froese (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Anthony Jackson-Hamel (Montreal Impact), Tommy Thompson (San Jose Earthquakes)
Be a part of the best sporting atmosphere in Vancouver! Whitecaps FC Season Tickets are now on sale. In addition to Season Tickets, Whitecaps FC offer a flexible range of ticket products, including Half-Season Packs, 5-Packs, a Youth Soccer Half-Season Ticket, and single match tickets. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com/tickets.
