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KINGSTON, Jamaica - Freshman forward Ricardo John was recently named to the Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 National Team, also known as the Junior Soca Warriors, that will be competing for one of the four CONCACAF spots in the Under-20 World Cup to be held in New Zealand this summer. The team will have its first match this evening against Jamaica.

In a recent warm-up match against Caledonia prior to the World Cup Qualifiers, John scored a pair of goals to propel Trinidad and Tobago to a 5-1 victory.

John, an NSCAA All-Region selction, an All-ACC Second Team and Freshman All-ACC selection, tied for the Virginia Tech team lead in points with 11 on the strength of five goals and one assist. Out of the five goals he scored, two were game-winning goals. John’s only assist of the season was on the game-winning goal against NC State.

John and the Junior Soca Warriors will kick off tonight against Jamaica at 8 p.m. and will play matches against the United States, Aruba, Panama and Guatemala between today and Jan. 21. If Trinidad and Tobago is able to make it out of their group, the team will play again on Jan. 24.

“We know the tournament will be challenging. You look at teams like the US and Panama, they are the big ones in our group but Jamaica is always tough and Guatemala and Aruba are here for the same reasons we are: to do well and qualify. We have to ensure we are ready to work right down until the end if we want to advance to the World Cup,” John told the Trinidad and Tobago Futbol Federation.

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