Courtesy: Andy Mead Valentin will be one of eight returning starters for the Zips this fall.

AKRON, Ohio – Zarek Valentin and Perry Kitchen, two members of The University of Akron men's soccer team, each played crucial roles in leading the U.S. Under-20 National Team to a convincing 3-0 victory over host Northern Ireland in the championship match of the Milk Cup Friday. Both Valentin and Kitchen started the title game for the U.S.

According to the U.S. Soccer website, "U.S. goalkeeper Zac MacMath marshalled a solid defensive unit that included Zarek Valentin, Agbossoumonde, Perry Kitchen and Greg Garza. The group held Northern Ireland to just seven shots, none of which were especially dangerous..."

Valentin started all 25 games as a true freshman defender last fall while Kitchen was the No. 2-ranked high school recruit in the nation, accoring to Top Drawer Soccer. Kitchen, who is expected to play defensive midfield for UA, is one of nine newcomers who will be suiting up for the Zips for the first time in 2010.

The Zips wil officially kick off the 2010 campaign this fall in North Carolina against UNC and Wake Forest in what figures to be one of the biggest weekends in college soccer. UA will face the Tar Heels on Sept. 3 in Chapel Hill, N.C. before taking on the Demon Deacons on Sept. 5 in Winston Salem, N.C.

Zips' fans will have their first opportunity to see the 2010 UA squad when VCU comes to newly renovated Lee Jackson Field for an exhibition match on Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET. To purchase season tickets for the upcoming season, visit www.GoZips.com/tickets, call 1-888-99-AKRON (25766) or visit in-person at the Akron Athletics Ticket Office at InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field (located at the southwest corner of the venue, near Gate 1).

The UA Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (ET).

The U.S. earned its place in the final with wins against China (1-0) and Denmark (3-2), and was the only team in the Elite Section to win its first two matches.

Against Northern Ireland, the U.S. took the lead in the 24th minute, when Agbossoumonde, who wore the captain’s armband in all three games, lined up a free kick from 20 yards. He took a long run up to the ball and fired it through the wall, giving the ‘keeper no chance to react as the ball skipped into the side netting.

The American side continued to press, and had a goal disallowed just moments later. In the 43rd minute, Agudelo pounced on a ball just inside his attacking half, and, with a great individual effort, went past two defenders. He created enough space to wind up his shot, lifting the ball over goalkeeper Wayne Drummond and dipping it just under the crossbar to double the U.S. lead before the half.

In the second half, a great passing combination led Valentin wide with the ball near the end line. The Akron defender turned and slotted the ball back for strike partner Ruelas, who hit the ball first time and ripped it into the far post from 15 yards for his third goal of the Milk Cup.

U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team Match Report

Participants: U.S. U-20 MNT vs. Northern Ireland
Competition: 2010 Milk Cup Final
Location: Ballymena Showgrounds, Northern Ireland
Date: July 30, 2010
Time: 8:00 p.m. Local
Weather: Cool and Damp

Scoring Summary:  1    2    F
USA                          2   1    3
NIR                          0    0    0

USA – Gale Agbossoumonde               24th minute
USA – Juan Agudelo                           43
USA – Adrian Ruelas (Zarek Valentin)   68

Lineups:
USA: 18-Zac MacMath; 2-Zarek Valentin, 6-Perry Kitchen, 22-Gale Agbossoumonde, 5-Greg Garza; 17-Juan Agudelo, 8-Dillon Powers (3-Sacir Hot, 88), 7-Alex Molano (21-Conor Shanosky, 63), 14-Fuad Ibrahim (15-Bryan De La Fuente, 58); 13-Adrian Ruelas (19-Ethan White, 78), 9-Omar Salgado (10-Francisco Navas Cobo, 68)
Subs not used: 16-Ernest Nungaray, 24-Samir Badr
Head coach: Thomas Rongen

NIR: 1-Wayne Drummond; 14-Liam Bagnell, 6-Chris Hegarty, 2-Adam Thompson, 3-Dean Jarvis (5-Craig Hill, 46); 7-Jonathan Gorman, 4-Paddy McLaughlin, 8-Jonathan Breeze (17-Neil Dougan, 46), 10-James Gray (16-Scott Davidson, 65), 11-Shane Ferguson (15-Daniel Devine, 77); 9-William Grigg
Subs Not Used: 12-Andrew Dickey, 13-Aaron Burns, 18-Michael McCrudden
Head Coach:

Statistical Summary: USA / NIR
Shots 13 / 7
Saves 4 / 4
Fouls 14 / 16
Corner Kicks 9 / 3
Offside 1 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Omar Salgado (caution)               32nd minute
USA – Zarek Valentin (caution)               60
USA – Gale Agbossoumonde (sent off)    77
NIR – Chris Hegarty (sent off)                77
USA – Conor Shanosky (caution)            85