LA Galaxy Under-16 forward Haji Wright and goalkeeper Abraham Romero will be among 28 players that will take part in the fall semester of U.S. Under-17 Residency Program, U.S. Soccer announced on Tuesday.
Wright made 20 appearances for the Galaxy Under-16’s last season and finished in third in scoring with seven goals. The fall semester marks the start of preparations for the qualifying cycle for the 2015 Under-17 World Cup in Chile. A total of eight players selected by U-17 head coach Richie Williams heading to residency are California natives, which is the most of any state -- six of which are from Southern California.
Also named to the roster is Wright's Academy teammate Abraham Romero, who made 11 appearances last season while playing for LA's U-16 and U-18 squads. Romero was listed by U.S. Soccer as a member of FC Golden State, but is registered under with the Galaxy for the upcoming Development Academy season according to Galaxy Academy Director Peter Vagenas.
The complete roster is below...
GOALKEEPERS (3): William Pulisic (Richmond Strikers; Mechanicsville, Va.), Abraham Romero (LA Galaxy; Altadena, Calif.), Kevin Silva (PDA; Bethlehem, Pa.)
DEFENDERS (10): Hugo Arellano (Chivas USA Academy; Norwalk, Calif.), George Braima (Crew Soccer Academy; Columbus, Ohio), Pierre Da Silva (New York Soccer Club; Port Chester, N.Y.), Nikkye De Point (Revolution Empire; Rochester, N.Y.), Tanner Dietrich (Tennessee Soccer Club; Nashville, Tenn.), Cristian Martinez (NJSA 04; Mine Hill, N.J.), John Nelson (Internationals; Medina, Ohio), Matthew Olosunde (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trenton, N.J.), Elijah Rice (Chicago Magic PSG; Highland Park, Ill.), Alexis Velela (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Eric Calvillo (Real So Cal; Palmdale, Calif.), Ronaldo Escudero (Pateadores; Placentia, Calif.), Kyle Gurrieri (NJSA 04; Totowa, N.J.), Thomas McCabe (Players Development Academy; South Orange, N.J.), Weston McKinnie (FC Dallas Academy; Little Elm, Texas), Logan Panchot (St. Louis Scott Gallagher Missouri; St. Louis, Mo.), Devin Vega (San Antonio Scorpions; San Antonio, Texas), Brian Zelaya (Juventus Heat; San Mateo, Calif.), Alejandro Zendejas (FC Dallas Academy; El Paso, Texas)
FORWARDS (6): Kevin Coleman (FC Richmond; Warrenton, Va.), David Loera (Orlando City Lions; Orlando, Fla.), Jonathan Navarro (De Anza Force; San Jose, Calif.), Christian Pulisic (PA Classics; Hershey, Pa.), Sean Teixeira (New York Red Bulls Academy; Trumbull, Conn.), Haji Wright (LA Galaxy Academy; Los Angeles, Calif.)
