On Saturday, the Colorado Rapids announced that two of their own, midfielder Dillon Serna and defender Eric Miller, were called up to the United States Under-23 National Team by head coach Andreas Herzog for the upcoming FIFA 2016 Olympic CONCACAF-CONMEBOL Play-off from March 25-29.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Dillon and Eric, and these matches will be a great experience for them,” said Paul Bravo, the Rapids VP of Soccer Operations and Technical Director. “On behalf of everyone at the organization, we want to wish them and the team the best of luck in their quest of qualifying for the Olympics this summer.”
Serna, a native of Brighton, Colorado, was signed by the Rapids in January 2013 and has appeared in 44 matches (26 starts) since then. He has some experience with the national team, having played five matches at the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifiers last October.
Miller, who was acquired by the Rapids in February, played 30 games (24 starts) for the Montreal Impact over the last two years. He’s also represented the USMNT at the U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels.
Their first 2016 Olympic Qualifying match will take place on Friday, March 25 at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Columbia. The US will be looking to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, where they were knocked out in the group stage, posting a 1-1-1 record.
Here’s a list of the US U-23 roster, via the Colorado Rapids:
GOALKEEPERS: Cody Cropper (Milton Keynes Dons, ENG), Ethan Horvath (Molde KJ, NOR), Zach Steffen (SC Freiburg, GER)
DEFENDERS: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Matt Miazga (Chelsea FC, ENG), Eric Miller (Colorado Rapids), Tim Parker (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Desevio Payne (FC Groningen, HOL), Shane O’Neill (Cambridge United), Brandon Vincent (Chicago Fire), Walker Zimmerman (FC Dallas)
MIDFIELDERS: Fatai Alashe (San Jose Earthquakes), Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana, MEX), Luis Gil (Queretaro, MEX), Julian Green (Bayern Munich, GER), Emerson Hyndman (Fulham FC, ENG), Jerome Kiesewetter (VfB Stuttgart, GER), Matt Polster (Chicago Fire), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew SC)
FORWARDS: Jordan Morris (Seattle Sounders FC), Mario Rodriguez (Borussia Monchengladbach, GER), Khiry Shelton (New York City FC)