Tomas Romero of Cherry Hill, N.J. has already played in USL with Bethlehem Steel FC and is a regular with the El Salvador U17 team

Philadelphia Union goalkeeping prospect Tomas Romero verbally committed this week to play college soccer at Georgetown University after he graduates from YSC Academy in 2019.

“I had some really good schools that contacted me earlier this year, some of the best schools in the entire country for academics and sports,” Romero said. “They all treated me really well and it was a good experience seeing all the colleges. I thought Georgetown was a really good fit for me so I decided to go there.”

Romero declined to name the other interested schools, which he broke the news to by phone after making his decision, but they included programs in the ACC and other top conferences for men’s soccer.

He visited D.C. to see the Georgetown campus several weeks ago and also saw the Hoyas play at Talen Energy Stadium against Villanova in mid-October. Georgetown won the game 2-0.

“In my opinion they play really good soccer so that was also a big factor for me going there,” he said. “When I was looking I wanted to see a college that played the style I believe in.”

The Hoyas’ starting keeper for the past three seasons, JT Marcincowski, signed a homegrown deal with San Jose Earthquakes earlier this month. Marcincowski was also a backup on the United States team in the U20 World Cup.

“I’ve seen JT play a couple games and I think we have things in common in the way that we play and I think that’s what (head coach) Brian Wiese was looking for in a goalkeeper,” said Romero, who turns 17 next week. “If JT was able to succeed I think I will as well.”

One of the top prospects in the Philadelphia Union Academy, Romero has trained regularly with the first team, already played in the USL with Bethlehem Steel FC and has extensive youth international experience with El Salvador. He spent three weeks with the El Salvador U17 team last month at a tournament in Colombia. He joined the academy in 2014 from South Jersey club Real Jersey FC.

The second member of the YSC Academy class of 2019 to commit to a college, Romero joins U19 teammate Brenden Aaronson, who verbally committed to Indiana in November.

As with any college verbal commitment, Romero would still have an option to sign a professional deal with the Philadelphia Union should an offer come at any time before or even during his time in college.

The Union, of course, already have strong ties to Georgetown through defenders Josh Yaro and Keegan Rosenberry, who both played for Wiese before being drafted in the first round by the Union in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.