Daily news roundups

Wenger wins Hermann, 5 Union players in U-23 camp, more news

Photo courtesy of Duke University

Pennsylvania native Andrew Wenger won the Hermann Trophy on Friday as the best player in men’s college soccer. The former Reading United and Duke University star is expected to be a top-3 pick in this month’s MLS college draft. Stanford’s Teresa Noyola won the women’s award.

Wenger will join five Philadelphia Union players at a January training camp for the U.S. U-23 squad in his first call-up. Sheanon Williams, Amobi Okugo, Jack McInerney, Zac MacMath and Freddy Adu will all return to camp. Lancaster native and former Reading United star Zarek Valentin will also be in camp, as will former Rutgers player Dilly Duke, meaning that nearly half the squad will have Pennsylvania or New Jersey ties. Union players make up five of the 11-man MLS contingent.

Hermann Trophy runner-up Billy Schuler, an Allentown (N.J.) native, looks set to pass up MLS and play for American coach Gregg Berhalter at Norwegian side Hammarby.

The MLS Scouting Combine kicked off Friday without Schuler. In a smart marketing move, MLS has made the combine available to watch online here, with the next friendly matches scheduled for 2:30 and 4:25 p.m. today. The draft is Thursday.

MLS Defender of the Year Omar Gonzalez tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during his first practice with German club Nuremberg and will be out for at least six months. Seriously. First practice while on loan. That’s the sort of injury that takes a long time to recover from.

Bolton has made a formal transfer offer for Tim Ream, ESPN reported Friday. Ream is apparently getting married today. Good luck on both. (Am I the only PSP writer who doesn’t rip on him? Too much hate, too much hate!)

Rangers rejected a transfer bid for U.S. international Maurice Edu from French club Sochaux.

Toronto FC has hired former U.S. U-20 coach Thomas Rongen to lead its academy.

A German indoor soccer tournament ended early after a brawl broke out and injured 49 people. Yes, 49.

ESPN breaks down Colorado’s very interesting move to hire Oscar Pareja, who says he wants to change the Rapids’ ugly style of play into something actually worth watching. Pareja previously led the FC Dallas academy, which has produced more home-grown players than any team in MLS.

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