Courtesy: Aztec Athletics


Chiles Named to U.S. Futsal National Team Pool

Sept. 26, 2011

SAN DIEGO - Former San Diego State men's soccer player Kraig Chiles (San Diego/Poway HS) has been named to the United States Futsal National Team pool, U.S. head coach Keith Tozer recently announced.

Chiles was initially one of 42 players invited to the first-ever U.S. Futsal Identification (ID) camp from Sept. 12-15 at "Soccer City" in Torrance, Calif. The camp was designed to identify the top Futsal players in the country with the goal of strengthening the U.S. team that will attempt to quality for the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup in Thailand.

After three days of intense training, Tozer selected Chiles and 19 others to attend the full national team training camp (Sept. 24-Oct.1), also in Torrance. From there, Tozer and the coaching staff will pick a roster of 13 that will represent the U.S. at the Grand Prix of Futsal in Manaus, Brazil, from Oct. 24-31.

"Kraig has proven to be a goal scorer in all forms of soccer - outdoor, indoor and now Futsal," Tozer said. "I am very happy to have him join the U.S. National Team and strongly believe as he gains Futsal experience he will only get better."

"As a soccer player, there is no greater accomplishment in your career than representing your country," Chiles said. "As a kid I dreamt about putting on the USA jersey, but I never thought it was something I'd realistically be able to do. I'm honored to be in this pool of players and I'm going to give everything I have to help this team (at the Grand Prix of Futsal) in Brazil and qualify for the World Cup."

Last season, Chiles capped an impressive showing in the Premier Arena Soccer League by leading the San Diego Sockers to their second consecutive championship and 12th overall title. Chiles was named the tournament's most valuable player after scoring four goals in the championship victory over La Raza de Guadalajara. He added a goal in the Sockers' 7-3 win over Mexico City in the semifinal match.

Chiles, who also garnered regular season MVP honors, led the league with 38 goals. He added 12 assists for 50 points, a Sockers' PASL-pro record.

Chiles scored 21 times over his career with the Aztecs (2003-07). He was a three-time all-Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2007, honorable mention accolades in 2006 and second-team recognition in 2005.

In his final year on Montezuma Road, Chiles led the Pac-10 in shots (62) and was second with 20 points on eight goals and four assists. He also led SDSU in games started (19) and shots on goal (26).

Unbeaten over its last five matches, San Diego State (5-1-2) opens up Pac-12 play this weekend with home games against Stanford (Friday, 1:30 p.m. PT) and California (Sunday, Noon PT).




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com