Indiana University Athletics
Alston Signs with Hoosiers
8/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 8, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head men's soccer coach Mike Freitag announced the signing of Under-17 U.S. National Team player Kevin Alston to a National Letter of Intent. Alston will enroll at IU in January 2006, following the 2005 FIFA World Youth (U17) Championship in Peru.
"We are very excited to have Kevin become a Hoosier," Freitag said. "Kevin caught our attention at some events, and obviously, he is a good player coming from the Under-17 National Team. He is a player with exceptional quickness and speed along with being very competitive. He starts right now for the Under-17 National Team and is a versatile player who can play both in the back and in the midfield. Kevin has tremendous potential to grow. You cannot teach the athleticism that he possesses. He is a high-end athlete who can make a difference in a game."
The 5-8, 150-pounder has been a member of U.S. Soccer's Residency Program since September of 2003. Alston is a starter for the U17 team, helping the squad qualify for the World Championship while playing on the back line. In 2005, he ranks among the U-17 team leaders in appearances with 28, making 26 starts. He has registered a pair of assists on the year.
In total, the Silver Spring, Md., native has earned 17 caps as a member of the U17 National Team. Since joining the Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., he has started 51 of the 76 matches he has played with a goal and three assists. He scored his first career U17 goal in a 6-0 victory over Ajax Orlando U-18 on Oct. 16, 2004.
Alston was a 2005 PARADE Magazine All-America selection at back. He also earned NSCAA All-America team honors in 2004. Alston was invited to the prestigious adidas ESP Camp in both 2004 and 2005, but he could not attend the 2005 event due to a U.S. National Team competition in Brazil.
Alston played club soccer for the Potomac Cougars under head coach Arnold Tarzy. He helped the Cougars to the Maryland State Cup title in 2003(U15) and 2004 (U16), beating the Casa Mia Bays. Alston started every match at the left back position. The Casa Mia Bays went on to win the national championship in both years. He also played for D.C. United in the Super Y League in 2002 and 2003.
Alston's international start with the U17 National Team was a 1-0 loss to soccer power Argentina in which he played the entire 90 minutes. Alston's international debut came in 1998 with D.C. United's U10 team at the Dannon Cup in Paris, France.
He played only one season at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Wheaton, Md. Alston was a varsity starter as a freshman at right back. He also was the starting point guard on the freshmen basketball team.
Along with playing soccer, Alston enjoys watching movies, playing video games and listening to his I-Pod. In fact, with the U17 National Team, his nickname has become "K-Pod." He was born on May 5, 1988 to Jeanne Fox-Alston and Larry Alston. Alston's older brother, Kenneth, is a fourth-year University of Virginia student, majoring in foreign affairs and economics. Alston and his parents also are D.C. United (Major League Soccer) season ticket holders.
Alston and the U17 U.S. National Team will play in the FIFA U17 World Championship, Sept. 27-Oct. 2. The U.S. is in Group C with North Korea, Italy and Ivory Coast. The United States will open with North Korea on Sept. 17 at 12:45 p.m. CT before battling Italy and Ivory Coast on Sept. 20 (3:30 p.m. CT) and 23 (3:30 p.m. CT), respectively. The matches can be followed live on ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, presented by Phillips Electronics. IUHOOSIERS.com will also follow Alston and the U17 team's progression at the World Championship.
