(Photo: Kari Heistad)

NEW YORK (May 6, 2016) – The New York Cosmos announced today their 2016 roster for New York Cosmos B, the club’s reserve side competing in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

Head coach Fernando Barboto’s 24-player roster includes four key contributors from the championship-winning 2015 team: goalkeeper Jonathon Morales, defender Juan Dominguez, defender/midfielder Gonzalo Rodriguez and forward Julian Stahler.

“We have a talented group with quality young players at every position,” said Barboto. “The team worked hard to come together in preseason, and now the players are eager to represent this club on the field.”

“Cosmos B is an important part of this club, and we are making a greater effort this year to bring in younger players,” first team head coach and Sporting Director Giovanni Savarese added. “I support Fernando. I'm confident he will do a fantastic job with the team.”

Teenage wingers Hanif Wright and Alejandro Mitrano, youth national team products of the United States and Venezuela, respectively, will suit up for Cosmos B this season. Wright, the younger brother of former Cosmos striker Haji Wright, competed with the Cosmos reserves for part of the 2015 campaign and represents the U.S. at the Under-17 level. Mitrano has played with Venezuela’s U-18 national team.  

A duo that boasts European youth experience joins Mitrano and Wright in the Cosmos B midfield. English attacking midfielder Trey Williams, 18, last competed with the U-18 side of Queens Park Rangers. Italian central midfielder Andrea Rubin, 19, is a product of AC Milan’s youth academy.

Honduran midfielder Franklin Castellanos, 24, comes to Cosmos B from New York Red Bulls II, where he made 16 appearances a year ago in the team’s inaugural United Soccer League (USL) season.

Goalkeeper Kevin Tenjo, 20, and defender Miguel Palafox, 21, began developing their skills in North and South America. Born in New York but raised in Colombia, Tenjo came through Independiente Santa Fe’s youth system. Palafox grew up in California and has enjoyed stints with top-flight clubs in Mexico (León) and El Salvador (Santa Tecla).

Cosmos B opened its 2016 NPSL season with a 3-1 victory against Boston City FC on Sunday, May 1 in Malden, Mass. Next will be another road fixture in Massachusetts, this time against the Seacoast United Phantoms, before the home opener against the Seacoast United Mariners at Mitchel Field on Friday, May 13.

Hofstra University’s James M. Shuart Stadium will host a Cosmos doubleheader on Sunday, May 22, with Cosmos B taking on the Phantoms at 3 p.m. ET followed by the first team facing the Tampa Bay Rowdies at 6 p.m.

See below for the complete Cosmos B roster by position, with ages in parentheses.

2016 NEW YORK COSMOS B ROSTER

Goalkeepers: Hector Guerrero (24), Jonathan Morales (23), Kevin Tenjo (20)

Defenders: Sebastian Capozucchi (20), Juan Dominguez (23), Jhamie Hyde (23), Dominic Iovino (22), Kyle McTurk (25), Miguel Palafox (21), Gonzalo Rodriguez (20), Shaun Russell (22), Gaston Sanchez (24)

Midfielders: Giuseppe Barone (21), Franklin Castellanos (24), John Dumbuya (22), Tyrone Harrison (18), Michael Holzer (25), Alejandro Mitrano (18), Andrea Rubin (19), Trey Williams (18), Hanif Wright (17), Aziz Ziyaev (17)

Forwards: Ivan Berterame (22), Julian Stahler (23)