Michael Parkhurst Named to US National Team Roster

Michael Parkhurst, a Wake Forest graduate, has been named to the 30-man roster for the 2014 US National TeamU.S. Manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced the roster earlier this afternoon and among the thirty players selected was former Demon Deacon Michael Parkhurst. Parkhurst, a 2004 Wake Forest alum, was selected as one of the eleven defenders who will join the team until at least June 2nd. Klinsmann will have to make an even more difficult decision following a friendly against Turkey, and shortly before the team departs for the World Cup in Brazil.

While it is far from a guarantee that Parkhurst will be on the 23-man roster that heads to Brazil, he provides some experience on the back line and has played in two Gold Cups as well as the 2008 Summer Olympics. He has capped in 26 total matches for the US National Team, most recently on April 2nd in a friendly against Mexico - a game which finished in a 2-2 draw.

The US opens World Cup play on June 16 against Ghana, the team who eliminated the USA in the 2010 World Cup.

Parkhurst started all 62 games he played in a Demon Deacon uniform and finished with one goal and two assists. He was named a second-team All-American in each of his final two seasons with Wake and graduated in 2004 with a degree in History. Following his tenure at Wake, Parkhurst was snagged by the hometown New England Revolution of the MLS before moving on to Danish club Nordsjælland in 2008. After five years in Denmark, he temporarily moved to Germany where he played for FC Augsburg, playing in two matches. He is currently a member of the Columbus Crew of the MLS and has made nine appearances for the club, including the opener against D.C. United where he was named captain.

Regardless of what happens over the next month, it's always exciting to see Demon Deacons playing for their country and Michael is no different. Congratulations and good luck over the next few weeks! As always, go Deacs.