When the US National Arena Soccer Team plays its final two tune-up games this weekend they will feature two of the top players in the game. Two-time reigning MASL MVP Franck Tayou and 2014/15 MVP Leo Gibson will fortify the US roster for games in Rio Rancho, New Mexico on Friday and in Denver, Colorado on Saturday.
The US has struggled in compiling a 3-7 record (including 2-5 against neighboring Mexico) on their barnstorming tour while preparing for the World Minifootball Federation World Cup in Nabeul, Tunisia October 6-15, so the arrival of Tayou and Gibson could provide the team with a much-needed lift.
Unlike Mexico, who named their final World Cup roster earlier this week, the US has some tough final decisions to make. The US roster for Tunisia will likely be announced early next week.
Among the players who will play only in the Denver game this weekend is Jay Hamilton, who was the first player in Professional Arena Soccer League history to score seven goals in a game, and earned caps on the USNAST in the 2008 Torneo Internacional de Futbol Rapido Monterrey.
USNAST General Manager Bernie Lilavois will assume the role of interim Head Coach for the team through the WMF World Cup. The American Association of Soccer 5-6-7 announced today that Phil Salvagio would focus on the team’s arena soccer competitions while Lilavois would coach the minifootball games until a permanent coach can be found.
| USNAST Roster | Last or Current Team |
| Boris Pardo GK | San Diego Sockers |
| Uzi Tayou D | Soles de Sonora |
| Matt Germain D | Turlock Express |
| Bobby Hurwitz D | Cedar Rapids Rampage |
| Gordy Gurson M | Cedar Rapids Rampage |
| Matt Clare M | San Diego Sockers |
| Taylor Bond M | Cedar Rapids Rampage |
| Franck Tayou F | Soles de Sonora |
| Leo Gibson F | Kansas City Comets |
| Hans Hassell D | Colorado Blizzard |
| Marcus Jordan M | Colorado Blizzard |
| Tristen Heath D | Colorado Blizzard |
| Jay Hamilton M | Colorado Blizzard |
| Casey Gasson GK | Colorado Blizzard |
| Brice Colcombe D | Colorado Blizzard |
| Justin Dzuba GK | Colorado Inferno |
| Head Coach & GM Bernie Lilavois | |
| Mexico Roster | Last or Current Team |
| Diego Reynoso GK | Monterrey Flash |
| Raymundo Contreras M | San Diego Sockers |
| Hiram Ruiz M | San Diego Sockers |
| Enrique Canez F | Soles de Sonora |
| Raymundo Reza D | San Diego Sockers |
| Juan Carlos Gonzalez M | Ontario Fury |
| Erick Tovar F | San Diego Sockers |
| Ivan Campos F | Turlock Express |
| Jesus Belmonte D | Turlock Express |
| Francisco Rivas M | Rocky Mountain Bighorns |
| Neftali Garcia M | Rocky Mountain Bighorns |
| Jorge Guzman D | Rocky Mountain Bighorns |
| Blas Ramos D | Rocky Mountain Bighorns |
| Jose Guzman M | Rocky Mountain Bighorns |
| Head Coach Luis Borrego |
