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Scott Chandler

Frankie Amaya received his third U-20 call-up of the year on Tuesday (photo: Scott Chandler)

Amaya Recalled to U-20 MNT For World Cup Qualifying

Men's Soccer

Star midfielder will join the U-20s for the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship at the IMG Academy.

UCLA freshman midfielder Frankie Amaya has been called up the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team by head coach Tab Ramos, it was announced on Tuesday. Amaya and the rest of the 20-man roster will aim to defend the team confederation title at the 2018 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, which takes from Nov. 1-21 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

As the tournament's top seed, the U.S. was drawn into Group A and opens the tournament against Puerto Rico (Nov. 1), followed by the U.S. Virgin Islands (Nov. 3), Trinidad & Tobago (Nov. 5), and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Nov. 7) before finishing up against Suriname.

The U.S. has qualified for 15 of 21 U-20 World Cups, including 10 of the last 11 and three straight under Ramos.

This is the third appearance with the U20 MNT for Amaya. He made his debut earlier this year, participating in a two-week training camp in Spain in March and potting a goal against France while competing against Atletico Madrid's U-21 team. He was also recalled by Ramos for a three-game tournament at the IMG Academy in September.

Slowed by an injury earlier this season, Amaya has now appeared in nine straight games for the Bruins, including eight starts. The creative midfielder from Santa Ana, Calif. ranks fourth on the team in scoring (two goals, one assist). As the No. 6 overall prospect, he was a key part of UCLA's 2018 recruiting class which was ranked No. 1 in the country. 

The Bruins play a pair of pivotal Pac-12 road contests this week, at Washington on Thursday night and at Oregon State on Sunday afternoon. Both contests will be televised by the Pac-12 Networks.

2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship Roster by Position (Club or College; Hometown)
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Brady Scott (FC Koln; Petaluma, Calif.), 12-CJ Dos Santos (S.L Benfica; Philadelphia, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (7): 2-Jaylin Lindsey (Sporting KC; Charlotte, N.C.), 3-Chris Gloster (Hannover 96; South Orange, N.J.), 4-Mark McKenzie (Philadelphia Union; Bear, Del.), 5-Matthew Real (Philadelphia Union; Drexel Hill, Pa.), 14-Manny Perez (N.C. State; Garner, N.C.), 16-Julian Araujo (LA Galaxy; Lompac, Calif.), 19-Sam Rogers (Seattle Sounders FC; Seattle, Wash.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): 6-Brandon Servania (FC Dallas; Birmingham, Ala.), 8-Juan Pablo Torres (K.S.C.Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen; Lilburn, Ga.), 8-Alex Mendez (SC Frieburg; Los Angeles, Calif.), 10-Paxton Pomykal (FC Dallas; Highland Village, Tex.), 15-Anthony Fontana (Philadelphia Union; Newark, Del.), 18-Isaac Angking (New England Revolution; Providence, R.I.)
FORWARDS (5): 9-Justin Rennicks (Indiana Univ.; Hamilton, Mass.), 11-Ulysses Llanez (Unattached; Lynwood, Calif.), 13-Griffin Dorsey (Indiana Univ.; Evergreen, Colo.), 17-Ayo Akinola (Toronto FC; Detroit, Mich.), 20-Frankie Amaya (UCLA; Santa Ana, Calif.)