March 24, 2008
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Former Maryland men's soccer standouts Maurice Edu and Chris Seitz led the United States Under-23 Men's National Team to a 3-1-1 record in the 2008 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying tournament, earning the red, white and blue a bid to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Edu serves as a captain for the team and Seitz allowed just one goal in the three games he started in net.
The US team won Group A with a 2-0-1 record and was the only team to go undefeated in pool play. The stars and stripes opened play on March 11 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., against Cuba. The teams tied, 1-1, with both goals coming in the first half. Freddy Adu scored for the Americans and Seitz made three saves in goal.
The team then picked up consecutive 1-0 victories against Panama and Honduras to clinch the top seed in the pool. Seitz made two saves against Panama in his first of two shutouts during the tournament. Both Edu and Seitz did not play in the final match against Honduras which the US also won.
Both players got back to their starting roles on the pitch in the semifinal match against Canada which the Americans dominated, 3-0, on March 20 at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. Seitz did not have to make a save as the United States defense held the Canadians to just nine shots with none of them being on goal.
Seitz kept his opponents scoreless for 228 minutes after allowing the goal to Cuba in the 42nd minute in the first game of the tournament.
The win against Canada ensured America's spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It will be the 13th trip to the Olympic Games for the United States. The 2008 Games will be played from August 6-23 in five venues and will mark the USA's first trip to the Olympics since 2000 when it finished fourth.
In the title match against Honduras, head coach Peter Nowak fielded just 16 players as he allowed European-based players to return to their club teams. Edu, Dax McCarty, and Jozy Altidore all started the game on the bench to allow other players time. Edu entered the match in the 26th minute to a replace an injured Hunter Freeman, but Honduras would take the win in overtime, 1-0.
Edu was named to the Best XI by the CONCACAF Technical Committeeon March 22.
