our team

Amir lowery

Amir Lowery is the Executive Director for Open Goal Project. Amir is a DC native who played for Wake Forest University before playing professionally for nearly a decade in Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League. After returning to his hometown of DC to coach, Amir decided immediate action was needed to bring more diversity to the youth soccer landscape in the District and started developing Open Goal Project as a means to do just that.

popsie lewis

Popsie Lewis has been involved with soccer for his entire life and acts as lead coach and mentor for Open Goal Project. After being a student athlete at Shenandoah University, where he led the Hornets in goals scored during the 1998 season, Popsie later turned his playing career into a coaching career, acting as a coach and mentor to hundreds of DC Public School soccer players over the past decade. Working under the umbrella of non-profit DC SCORES, Mark has coached several boys and girls public school soccer teams, leading at-risk young soccer players around the city.

corey dunson

Corey Dunson is our Open Goal Project Fútbol Fitness Strength and Conditioning Coach. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in finance and competing with the University of Georgia’s nationally recognized NCAA Division 1 Football team, Corey became an ACE Certified Personal trainer, specializing in leading personal and group Strength and Conditioning training sessions. An Equinox Tier 3 Trainer with more than 100 hours of education and practical application, Corey brings vast experience and knowledge to our program. Under Corey’s guidance and direction, our young student-athletes will become the healthiest young men and women they can be.

jocelyn cruz

Jocelyn Cruz is one of our alumni Program Assistants. Growing up in DC, Cruz attended DC Public Schools and played soccer competitively throughout her youth all the way through high school. Cruz is currently pursuing a degree at the University of the District of Columbia. She possesses a USSF Grassroots Coaching License .

simon birnstad

Simon Birnstad is one of our alumni Program Assistants. Born and raised in DC, Birnstad graduated from Wilson High School. He is currently a student-athlete at the University of District of Columbia, playing on the Men’s soccer team and majoring in Urban Sustainability.

simon landau

Simon Landau is the Director of Development and Partnerships for Open Goal Project. After working with DC SCORES for several years as a volunteer coach, Simon realized the amount of soccer talent that was falling through the cracks. He began working on Open Goal Project as a way to provide a platform for those players to grow. 

ivan klein

Ivan Klein is one of our DCFC Head Coaches. Klein is a Washington, DC native who grew up playing soccer in a number of local, high-level programs. A graduate of Wilson High School, Klein pursued a professional career playing soccer in Brasil at Limeira Futebol Sao Paulo. After his playing career, he returned to his home city to coach in a variety of capacities. Klein works across our Open Goal Project age groups.

david petersen

David Petersen is our Development Coordinator for Open Goal Project. Petersen has worked in a variety of capacities for DC nonprofits, including Turning the Page and DC SCORES. David has nearly a decade of teaching experience in multiple subjects. Before teaching, he worked as a Family Engagement Coordinator for a Washington, DC-based non-profit, where he supported parents through educational enrichment and leadership programs. For our program, David oversees development, grant opportunities and data tracking. He also assists with general program management.

isaiah crowley

Isaiah Crowley is one of our alumni Program Assistants. After being born in Colombia, Crowley moved to DC and attended E.L. Haynes for the entirety of his schooling. Playing soccer competitively since the age of 7, Crowley participated in Olympic Development Program regional teams. He is now coaching and is currently working on getting his USSF D coaching license.

jessica amaya-zuniga

Jessica Amaya-Zuniga is one of our alumni Program Assistant. Jessica currently attends Georgetown University and is studying Global Health and Justice & Peace Studies. Jessica has been selected to participate in national programs like DC United’s Major League Soccer Special Olympics team, dedicated to spreading awareness about inclusion, Colin Kaepernick's Know Your Rights camp, dedicated to empowering and advancing the next generation of leaders in minority communities, and A Bigger Picture, a women of color empowerment program.