Wilmer Cabrera has revealed the 20 players who will travel to Jamaica to represent the US in CONCACAF's U-17 Championship that begins on Monday.
The team is virtually identical to the squad that went on a week-long training trip to the Caribbean island in January and features five players who hail from MLS academies. The only change is the addition of midfielder Dillon Serna, who replaces Christian Duarte.
"We’re going with the guys who we think are ready to participate in this tournament,” Cabrera said in a statement. “These are our top 20 players right now and we hope they can prove themselves at this event. They know what to do, and have a very good concept of what we need as a team.”
The group features seven players – Alejandro Guido, Andrew Oliver, Marc Pelosi, Fernando Piña, Mario Rodriguez, Nathan Smith and Andrew Souders – in their fourth semester at the Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla.
The 20-man roster also includes two teenagers who joined the U-17 camp in January. Los Angeles Galaxy Home Grown signing Jack McBean and Jordan Allen impressed the coaching staff enough to earn one of the coveted spots.
Forward Alfred Koroma, who returned to the program in January after a year-long absence, will figure in the attack.
"He experienced how it is to be out of the program, to be outside," Cabrera told MLSsoccer.com. "He came back with I would say new batteries. He's more focused, and happier. He's more of a leader. That's why he's performing very well."
Pelosi, fresh off a hat trick against Honduras in the final tuneup game, leads the US with six goals and 20 caps.
The US play Cuba on Feb. 14 followed by a date with Panama on Feb. 18. The top two teams from the group advance to the quarterfinals, and the semifinalists will advance to the World Cup.
Complete roster by position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Kendall McIntosh (Mustang Academy; Santa Rosa, Calif.), Fernando Piña (Houston Dynamo; Houston)
DEFENDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Joe Amon (South Carolina United FC; Summerville, S.C.), Zach Carroll (Vardar; Grand Blanc, Mich.), Mobi Fehr (Tokyo Verdy 1969; Tokyo), Nathan Smith (Cal Odyssey; Clovis, Calif.), Andrew Souders (Crew Soccer Academy; Amherst, Ohio)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Jordan Allen (Empire United; Rochester, N.Y.), Matt Dunn (FC Köln; Dallas), Alejandro Guido (Aztecs Premier; Chula Vista, Calif.), Marc Pelosi (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Esteban Rodriguez (Cosmos Academy West; Palmdale, Calif.), Tarik Salkicic (Strictly Soccer; Pinellas Park, Fla.), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids Academy; Brighton, Colo.)
FORWARDS (5): Paul Arriola (Arsenal FC; Chula Vista, Calif.), Alfred Koroma (Solar Chelsea SC; Arlington, Texas), Jack McBean (LA Galaxy; Newport Beach, Calif.), Andrew Oliver (Westside United; Indianapolis), Mario Rodriguez (Central Aztecs; North Hollywood, Calif.)
Noah Davis covers the United States national team for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter at @noahedavis.
