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U.S. Paralympics Soccer National Team Heads to Rio de Janeiro for 2007 CPISRA World Championships
// U.S. Soccer Communications
// October 30, 2007
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Marthell Vazquez led the U.S. in scoring at the Parapan American Games, and will hope to turn in a strong showing at the CPISRA World Championships in Rio.
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CHICAGO – U.S. Paralympics Soccer National Team head coach Jay Hoffman named the 12-man roster that will travel to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, for the 2007 Cerebral Palsy International Sports & Recreation Association (CPISRA) World Championships from Nov. 5-17.
It is the second trip to Rio de Janeiro for the team, which finished fourth at the 2007 Parapanamerican Games earlier this year.
Hoffman returns several players who were with the team at the Parapan American Games, including Marthell Vazquez, who led the team in scoring with three goals. Also returning to the team is Josh Blue, who won Season Four of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in August 2006.
The U.S. was drawn into Group A, along with Iran, the Netherlands and Spain. The team kicks off the tournament on Nov. 5, when they take on the Netherlands. Two days later, the squad takes on Iran before closing out group play against Spain on Nov. 9.
Second round games begin Nov. 12 with matches for the bottom two finishers in each group. The quarterfinals take place Nov. 13, with the semifinals taking place on Nov. 15 and the final on Nov. 17.
Paralympic soccer is played seven-a-side on a smaller field and with smaller goals than non-disabled soccer. Each team plays with seven men using the International Federation of Associated Football (FIFA) rules which have been slightly modified to accommodate the disabilities of the athletes.
U.S. Paralympics Soccer National Team Group Schedule
Date Opponent
Nov. 5 Netherlands
Nov. 7 Iran
Nov 9 Spain
U.S. Paralympics Soccer National Team Roster By Position
World Championships - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
GOALKEEPERS (1): Keith Johnson (Houston, Texas)
DEFENDERS (4): Chris Ahrens (Rochester, N.Y.), Derek Arneaud (E. Stroudsburg, Pa.), Louis Garrett (Columbus, Ohio), John Theobald (Syracuse, N.Y.)
MIDFIELDERS (5): Tommy Latsch (Cleveland, Ohio), Jon McCullough (Washington, D.C.), Josh McKinney (Cary, N.C.), Shaun Schetka (New Brighton, Pa.), Jason Slemons (Eagle River, Ark.)
FORWARDS (2): Josh Blue (Denver, Colo.), Marthell Vazquez (Long Beach, Calif.)
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