PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Timbers U-23s defender/midfielder Eric Miller has been named to the U.S. U-20 National Team’s 18-player roster for the 2012 Northern Ireland Milk Cup, which will be place from July 21-26.
While on national team duty, Miller, 19, will miss the Timbers U-23s’ upcoming Premier Development League playoff matches as they compete in the Western Conference tournament this weekend. He started in the team’s recent divisional playoff win over the Kitsap Pumas on July 15.
The U.S. U-20 National Team, led by head coach Tab Ramos, will face Denmark on Saturday, July 21, at Scroggy Road in Limavady, Northern Ireland. Two days later, the team will take on Turkey on Monday, July 23, at the Showgrounds in the city of Ballymena. The playoff matches to determine final placement, including the championship, in the six-team tournament will take place Thursday, July 26.
A native of Woodbury, Minn., Miller earns his third call-up with the U.S. U-20 National Team in 2012. He previously joined the team for a training camp in Portland in April. He also participated in a training camp and South America tour with the team in June.
In his first season with the Timbers U-23s, Miller played in six matches, logging 540 minutes and a goal during the 2012 PDL regular season. He also scored the team’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to PSA Elite in the first round of the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on May 15.
Miller had an impressive freshman season for Creighton University in 2011, playing a key part in the team’s run to the NCAA College Cup semifinals. He helped anchor Creighton’s backline that allowed just five goals last season, and was named to both the Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman Team as well as to the all-freshman team by College Soccer News.
