Rafael Garcia

How Acquired: Selected by the Galaxy in the second round (38th overall) of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

A hard-working rookie from Cal State – Northridge, Garcia is looking to add depth to the center of the Galaxy midfield in his first season with the club. A local product who played for the club’s U-20 team in 2008, Garcia adds a physicality and tenacity that far outweighs his stature in the center of the park.

College Highlights

2011: Was limited to just 13 games as a senior after missing six games with a knee injury but still managed to earn All-Big West honors for the first time. A team captain for the second straight season, Garcia scored twice on the year with both goals coming on penalty kicks in the second half of a 3-0 win over UC Davis. He scored in the 68th minute and then again in the 77th for the first multi-goal game of his college career. His 32 shots were the third most on the team. 2010: Tied for second on the team with two goals while also adding a career-best six assists. The six assists were the most on the team as were his 49 shots. 2009: Returned from injury to play a career-high 20 games, starting all 20 of them for the Matadors. He tallied his only assist of the season at home against SMU while his 28 shots were the third-most on the team. 2008: Suffered a season-ending injury in the first game of the year against Georgetown and redshirted the rest of the season. 2007: A teammate of Sean Franklin’s as a freshman, Garcia stepped in and played in 17 games, making 14 starts in midfield. An All-Big West Second Team honoree, Garcia scored game-winning goals in victories over UNLV and Cal State Fullerton with both games ending 1-0. Northridge also won both games that Garcia had an assist in, giving them a 4-0-0 record when he was on the scoresheet.