July 1, 2009

Charlotte, NC - Former Charlotte 49ers men's soccer All-American and Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch (1994-96) was just named to the United States Soccer Senior National team roster for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Busch, who was the 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, is one of three goalkeepers on the team. Busch, who played in the 2004 MLS All-Star game as a member of the Columbus Crew, posted a shutout against Colombia as a member of the United States National team in March of 2005.

The CONCACAF Golf Cup runs from July 3 through July 26. The U.S. team opens group play against Grenada on July 4 at Seattle's Qwest Field. The United States faces Honduras on July 8 at RFK Stadium on Washington D.C. Then, the United States concludes group play against Haiti at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, July 11.

Busch, who has played in the MLS for the past seven years, was named 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year after leading the Chicago Fire to the playoffs. He started and played all 2,700 minutes of the Fire's 30 regular-season games. He helped the Fire to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference with a 13-10-7 record while leading the league in shutouts (10) and saves percentage (.782) and finishing second in the league in wins (13) and goals against average (1.10).

This season, Busch has started all 14 of the Fire's games and he has posted a 1.36 goals against average with 44 saves and three shutouts.

At Charlotte, Busch was named first-team All-Americas by the NSCAA in 1996 as he helped lead the 49ers to their first-ever appearance in the College Cup and a school-record 19 wins. In 1996, he recorded a career-high 12 shutouts, including two in the NCAA Tournament, and a career-low 0.89 goals against average. He was named Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year in 1996. He was also a three-time first-team All-Conference USA selection.