CARSON, Calif. (Tuesday, January 10, 2012) – LA Galaxy goalkeeper Brain Perk has been added to the U.S. Under-23 National Team for their current training camp, which began Sunday at The Home Depot Center. Perk, 22, was added to the team by head coach Caleb Porter following the withdrawal from the squad of fellow goalkeeper David Bingham. He joins fellow Galaxy teammate Michael Stephens on the 23-man roster, which was originally announced on Friday.
Now in his third season with the Galaxy, Perk made his MLS debut last season, keeping a clean sheet and saving a Fredy Montero penalty in a 0-0 home draw with Seattle on July 4. In addition to that game, the Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.-native was also in goal for LA’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win over the L.A. Blues while also making five appearances in the Reserve League and playing in four of the club’s six international friendlies. A veteran of the 2007 and 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, Perk has also represented the U.S. at the U-15, U-17 and U-18 levels.
Perk and the rest of the U-23 National Team will train at The Home Depot Center until traveling to Costa Rica on January 18, where they will play two matches against local club teams as they continue to prepare for the upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The U.S. has been drawn into Group A of the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying Tournament and will face Canada, Cuba and El Salvador in the group stage of the competition. Those four teams will play their group matches from March 22-26 at LP Field in Nashville with the top two teams advancing to the tournament semifinals. The two tournament finalists will qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London next summer.
Perk and the rest of the LA Galaxy will open preseason ahead of the 2012 MLS season later this month. They will return to competitive action on Wednesday, March 7 when they take on Toronto FC in the first leg of their 2011/12 CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal, which will be played at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They will open the 2012 MLS season three days later on Saturday, March 10 when they host Real Salt Lake at The Home Depot Center in MLS First Kick 2012, presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (PT) and tickets are on sale now as part of season ticket packages as well as three and six-game plans. For more information about this game or to purchase tickets, please visit the club’s official website at www.lagalaxy.com.
