Nguyen Helps U.S. to Milk Cup Championship
8/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 16, 2005
COLERAINE, Northern Ireland - Freshman Lee Nguyen helped the United States Under-18 National Team to its first ever Milk Cup title on Aug. 5. The U.S. went 2-0-1 in the competition, winning the elite group. The Gatorade High School Player of the Year scored a goal and had an assist, while starting all three matches.
The Milk Cup began in 1983 and added the elite group, which is an invitation-only tournament, in 1995. The tournament routinely includes some of the best national youth teams as well as English Premier League squads such as Manchester United, Rangers, Newcastle United and Everton. In the 2002 World Cup, there were 30 Milk Cup veterans playing.
The U.S. opened with a 1-1 tie against soccer power Brazil on Aug. 1. After the Brazilian side opened the scoring in the 25th minute, Nguyen brought the U.S. even with a tally of his own in the 77th minute. On Aug. 3, the U18s defeated Serbia & Montenegro, 1-0, on a goal by Charlie Davies in the 67th minute.
The national team wrapped up the championship with a 4-2 victory over host Northern Ireland. After falling behind early on a goal in the 10th minute, the U.S. reeled off four straight markers to ice the affair. Rodrigo Lopez scored the equalizer on a penalty kick for the U.S. in the 20th minute. The contest turned into the Davies' show after that with the Boston College sophomore netting the next three for the U.S. Nguyen set up Davies on his second of the three goals.
Nguyen has enjoyed an outstanding season with the U.S. National Teams. In seven matches with the U18s, the Richardson, Texas, native is the side's leading scorer with five goals and two assists. He has started all four international matches, netting a pair of markers with two helpers. The PARADE All-American was also the only high schooler to earn a spot on the Under-20 National Team for the FIFA World Youth Championship. In all, he played 11 matches with the U20s, starting six. Nguyen scored a pair of goals and had an assist.
Nguyen will see his first action as a Hoosier when the two-time defending national champions travel to Ft. Wayne, Ind., to battle UCLA in an exhibition. The match is slated for 8 p.m., on Friday as part of the IPFW Soccer Showcase. The preseason No. 1 Hoosiers will have their first home exhibition on Aug. 27 when they face Illinois-Chicago at 7:30 p.m.
IU opens the regular season by hosting a loaded field in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Hoosiers will welcome No. 10 SMU, No. 14 Wake Forest and No. 19 Notre Dame to Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium for the 23rd annual event. Indiana will take on Wake Forest on Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame and SMU will open the Classic at 5 p.m. On Sept. 4, Wake Forest will take on Notre Dame at noon before the Hoosiers face SMU at 2 p.m.
