CHICAGO (July 12, 2024) – As part of U.S. Soccer’s continued efforts to develop winning teams, U.S. Power Soccer National Team head coach Tracy Mayer has named a 14-player roster which will train from July 21-25 at the Eagen Community Center in Eagen, Minnesota. The training camp is the team’s second gathering of 2024, and will serve as an important step as the squad continues to prepare for the 2025 APFC Copa América to be held in Uruguay.
"I'm looking forward to seeing the team in camp following the National Championships in June," said Mayer. "We have a strong veteran presence guiding us this week and they will help our new players adjust to the pace of the National Team level. We are excited to see this roster compete in every drill and scrimmage as we get one step closer to qualifying as a group."
All eight veterans of the 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup squad have been called, including 2023 Player of the Year Riley Johnson (St. Cloud, Minn.) and finalists Lexi Heer (Fishers, Ind.) and Pete Winslow (Woodbury, Minn.). Johnson and Winslow are joined on the squad by club teammates Nathan Mayer (Monticello, Minn.) and Lindsey Muench (Campbellsport, Wisc.), who helped Minnesota Shockwave claim a fourth-straight U.S. Power Soccer Association Conference Cup title last month in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Meanwhile Mayer has also summoned six uncapped players, including three first-time call-ups in Jada Cano (Spring Beach, Texas), Ryan Connolly (San Jose, Calif.) and Stanley Kuang (San Leandro, Calif.).
Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport developed specifically for power wheelchair users and has been played internationally since 2007. The U.S. Power Soccer National Team features male and female athletes with disabilities that include quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy, among others. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court with four players who attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in a skilled and challenging game similar to mainstream soccer.
The U.S. Power Soccer National Team are two-time FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup champions, winning the first two competitions in 2007 and 2011, before earning a runner-up finish in 2017 and third place in 2023. The USA is also two-time APFC Copa América champions, winning both the 2014 and 2019 tournaments. Overall, the U.S. Power Soccer National Team has a 36W-4L-3D record since beginning play in 2007.
U.S. POWER SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM ROSTER (USPSA Club; Hometown; Caps/Goals):
Goalkeeper (1): Nathan Mayer*^ (Minnesota Shockwave; Monticello, Minn.; 22/2)
Wings (8):Jada Cano (STRAPS Scorpions; Spring Beach, Texas; 0/0), Ryan Connolly (LA Galaxy PSC; San Jose, Calif.; 0/0), Lexi Heer*^ (Sudden Impact; Fishers, Ind.; 18/9), Stanley Kuang (Golden State Ducks; San Leandro, Calif.; 0/0), Lindsay Muench^ (Minnesota Shockwave; Campbellsport, Wisc.; 0/0), Michael Rayton^ (San Jose Flash; San Jose, Calif.; 0/0), Natalie Russo-Dickey*^ (Sudden Impact; Carmel, Ind.; 21/21), Peyton Sefick*^ (CNY United; Syracuse, N.Y.; 15/5)
Centers (3): Jordan Dickey*^ (Sudden Impact; Pendleton, Ind.; 27/16), David Dowling^ (Turnstone Flyers; Fort Wayne, Ind.; 0/0), Riley Johnson*^ (Minnesota Shockwave; Saint Cloud, Minn.; 20/15)
Strikers (2): Zach Dickey*^ (Auburn Power Soccer; Pendleton, Ind.: 10/2), Pete Winslow*^ (Minnesota Shockwave; Woodbury, Minn.; 14/6)
*Part of 2023 FIPFA World Cup roster
^Part of 2024 ADAPTandTHRIVE Invitational
Head Coach: Tracy Mayer
Assistant Coach: Steve Everett
Assistant Coach: Peter McGahey
ROSTER NOTES:
- All eight players from the 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup will take part: Jordan Dickey, Zach Dickey, Lexi Heer, Riley Johnson, Nathan Mayer, Natalie Russo-Dickey, Peyton Sefick and Pete Winslow.
- Zach Dickey returns to the squad for the first time since the World Cup after missing out on March’s ADAPTandTHRIVE Invitational.
- Six players are uncapped: Jada Cano, Ryan Connolly, David Dowling, Stanley Kuang, Lindsay Muench and Michael Rayton.
- Cano, Connolly and Kuang will take part in their first Power Soccer National Team camp this month.
- Team co-captain Riley Johnson was voted 2023 U.S. Soccer Power Soccer Player of the Year and is joined on the squad by fellow finalists Lexi Heer and Pete Winslow.
- Heer led the USA with six goals at the 2023 Powerchair Football World Cup, while Winslow’s 15 assists led all athletes at the tournament.
- With 27 career caps, center Jordan Dickey is the Power NT’s all-time leader in appearances.
- Natalie Russo-Dickey sits second all-time on the Power NT’s scoring list with 21 goals in 21 career appearances.
- Nine different clubs from the United States Power Soccer Association are represented: Minnesota Shockwave (4), Sudden Impact (3), Auburn PSC (1), CNY United (1), Golden State Ducks (1), LA Galaxy PSC (1) San Jose Flash (1), STRAPS Scorpions (1) and Turnstone Flyers (1).
