Crofton Native Kyle Beckerman Shines in Gold Cup

Crofton native Kyle Beckerman will always be considered one of the best soccer players to come from this area. 

But until recently, there were questions about whether he could play a key role on the U.S. Men's National Team. 

Beckerman proved many doubters wrong over the weekend when he helped lead the men's national squad to a 1-0 victory over Panama in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. It was the first win in the tournament for the U.S. men's team since 2007. 

As a midfielder, Beckerman rarely makes headlines but has earned some praise for his strong recent play. But a report on MLSSoccer.com last week lauded Beckerman's "quiet but crucial contribution" and said he plays a key role in setting the team's rhythm. 

"Kyle is the Peyton Manning of soccer, for me, as far as an experienced player [who's] very good at what he does,” teammate Eddie Johnson told MLSSoccer.com. “He keeps us connected as far as keeping the ball, keeping us organized and that winning mentality that he's had. He's been a consistent player throughout his career and I'm very fortunate to play alongside him."

Beckerman plays professionally for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. As a high schooler, he played at Arundel High before leaving to attend an elite academy operated by the U.S. Men's team. 

His next challenge will be earning a spot on the U.S. Men's National Team for the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil. He will likely play in World Cup qualifying matches this fall.