The Jacksonville Armada announced Friday that it has exercised contract options on five players, including three quarters of its starting defense.

Seven others, meanwhile, will be leaving the North American Soccer League club.

Defenders Matt Bahner, Mechack Jerome and Tyler Ruthven, forward Charles Eloundou and goalkeeper Sean Lewis will all be returning for 2017.

The Armada did not use options on defenders Beto Navarro and Patrick Otte and midfielders Alex Dixon, Pekka Lagerblom and Garry Lewis.

Midfielder Lucas Scaglia, one of six players left from the team’s debut in 2015, and defender Anthony Wallace will not return after the expiration of their contracts.

Because the loan deals of midfielder Zach Steinberger and defender Karl Ouimette have also expired, returning them to their Major League Soccer clubs, the Armada’s roster now stands at 14 players.

The central duo of Ruthven and Jerome played together for every game except two since the Aug. 7 appointment of head coach Mark Lowry. Bahner played 24 games in defense with three goals, fourth highest on the team.

Sean Lewis started 10 games in the net, and 21-year-old preseason discovery Eloundou tied for the club lead with six goals.