The Houston Dynamo honored two Dynamo Academy players last week at their annual Dynamo Celebration at Hotel Zaza. Midfielder Christian Lucatero took home Dynamo Academy Player of the Year and midfielder Jose Rodriguez was awarded Players' Player of the Year.
Lucatero was a key component in the U-16 team’s run to the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Finals Week last summer. The Pasadena High School student started over 80% of the team’s games in the 2012-13 season and finished second on the team with 16 goals scored.
Lucatero has been involved in several U.S. Youth National Team training camps, most recently in September. He has also been named to the U-17/18 select team for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase on Dec. 12. Lucatero is now playing for the Dynamo U-18s, and is the only 1997
“Memo” Rodriguez won Players' Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Rodriguez has been a regular starter for the U-18s the past two seasons, and has started all seven games in the 2013-14 season. The El Campo native drives over an hour each way to training every day and never misses a session.
The talented midfielder has drawn looks from Dominic Kinnear and the first team training staff, training with the squad during the summer months and participating in several MLS Reserve League matches over the last two seasons.
