Real Salt Lake Duo Called Into National Team Camp
Jan 5, 2021, 12:31 PM
(Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Goalkeeper David Ochoa and right-back Aaron Herrera have been called into the U.S. U-23 camp by manager Jason Kreis ahead of upcoming Olympic qualifying matches.
“With Olympic qualifying approaching quickly, this training camp is a great opportunity to prepare ourselves and evaluate some new faces,” Kreis said. “While 2020 was a very challenging year, it was impressive to see so many U-23-eligible players make major strides on the field. Some of them have been involved with the senior team over the last few months and it’s exciting to now get our players and staff back together in camp alongside Gregg (Berhalter) and his group as we prepare for a very important qualifying tournament.”
🇺🇸 Going camping 🇺🇸
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 5, 2021
The call up marks the first in approximately a year for Herrera. Whereas Ochoa was called into a first-team camp just two months ago in preparation for a friendly against El Salvador. However, just days into camp Ochoa picked up an injury and his time with the first team was evidently cut short.
Both Herrera and Ochoa have played significant roles at the U-20 and U-23 levels.
Prior to its cancelation, Herrera was named to the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying roster and was on track to join the U.S. U-23 National Team in Tokyo for the summer Olympics. At the U-20 level, Herrera helped the United States lift its first-ever U-20 CONCACAF Championship and was on the squad that advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
This is the first time Ochoa has been called into the U.S. U-23 team.