CARSON, Calif.– The LA Galaxy announced today the formation of a youth-soccer partnership with Orange County-based West Coast Futbol Club, which has more than 45 teams playing in the Southern California Development Soccer League (SCDSL).
The Galaxy and West Coast FC will share coaching resources and staff while creating a common curriculum and methodology for developing young players. Top players from West Coast FC will be able to move onto LA Galaxy Academy teams, and West Coast FC teams will be able to draw from a larger talent pool and prepare players to compete for the Galaxy.
"The Galaxy Academy is excited about this partnership with West Coast Futbol Club,” LA Galaxy Academy Senior Director Chris Klein said. “This is the second partnership we’ve now formed and the first with a club in Orange County. West Coast FC has an excellent reputation and is committed to developing the next generation of soccer players."
Galaxy Academy and West Coast FC will also share administrative resources for player registration, league participation, field inventory, and special events. They will also partner in developing regional training centers and creating community training opportunities for players throughout the Southland.
This is the second partnership of this kind that the Galaxy have created, with the club having entered into a partnership with the Redondo Beach-based South Bay Force in March 2011.
GALAXY RESUME USSDA PLAY: More than six weeks after their last game, the LA Galaxy resumed U.S. Soccer Development Academy play last weekend with games at The Home Depot Center against the California Development Academy and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
The Galaxy U-16 team had a fantastic return to action, scoring two big non-division wins. In their first game, the club beat Sacramento-based California Development Academy, 2-0, behind goals from Kevin Labastida and Jaime Villarreal on Saturday. The next day, the Galaxy U-16’s beat Vancouver 2-1 with goals from Jose Miguel Espanza and Matthew Perez. With the wins, the Galaxy U-16’s improved to 6-3-2 on the season, including a 3-1-0 mark in the SoCal Division. Up next for the Galaxy U-16 is Arsenal FC on Saturday, January 28 at 1:30 p.m. at Riverside Community College.
The Galaxy U-18 got their weekend started by extending their unbeaten streak to 10 games with a 6-1 win over the California Development Academy on Saturday at The Home Depot Center. The scoring came from Drew Murphy, who bagged himself a hat trick, and Sean Dhillon, William Raygoza and Sebastian Velasquez each added one goal. On Sunday, however, the club lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps, 1-0, their first loss of the season. Yassin Essa scored the game’s lone goal in the 29th minute. The Galaxy U-18 are now 8-1-2 overall. They remain undefeated and in first place in the SoCal Division standings with a record of 4-0-0. Their next game is Saturday, January 28 against Arsenal U-18 at 11 a.m. at Riverside Community College.
SIX PLAYERS INVITED TO U.S. SOCCER TRAINING CENTER: Jordan Aldama, Daquan Dawkins, Brecc Evans and Jacob Muchnick from the LA Galaxy’s U-12 team as well as Sean Fabian and Abraham Romero from the club’s U-13 team have been invited to participate in the upcoming U.S. Soccer Training Center being held at The Home Depot Center next week. The training centers are single day, invitational training sessions run by U.S. Soccer staff for elite players. The purpose is to identify the best players for the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team program. In 2011, the Galaxy had 26 players invited to take part in various U.S. Soccer Training Centers throughout the year.
VILLARREAL STARTS THE NEW YEAR WITH HIS NEW TEAM: LA Galaxy U-18 forward Jose Villarreal, who signed his first professional contract with the Galaxy in December, was at the The Home Depot Center Monday when the reigning MLS Cup champions opened their preseason camp.
“I’m pretty thrilled,” Villarreal said after his first day training alongside David Beckham, Mike Magee, Josh Saunders and the rest of the players in camp. “Getting the opportunity to play with core players like Robbie Keane, David Beckham and Landon Donovan is just exciting to me.”
A native of Inglewood, Calif., Villarreal came to the Galaxy via local clubs South Bay Force and Pateadores. He added: “I’m not expecting to get that much playing time, but hopefully one day. Hopefully reserve games, I’ll get in there.”
For the 18-year-old, the prospect of staying close to home is what prompted his decision to sign for his hometown team.
“Getting that warm feeling from going home and seining my parents just made me stay here,” he said.
Villarreal is one of two Galaxy Academy products on the senior team, joining 17-year-old forward Jack McBean, who signed with the club in January 2011 and became the youngest player in club history to play in a game and score a goal. McBean is also currently taking part in preseason camp with the Galaxy. Both players trained with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in Florida earlier this month.
MATCH RECAPS
LA Galaxy U-16’s 2, CDA 2
Saturday, January 21
The Home Depot Center
The Galaxy U-16’s started off 2012 on the right foot— and so did Jaime Villarreal, who had one goal and one assist— as the Galaxy beat the California Development Academy 2-0 at The Home Depot Center. In the 23rd minute, Kevin Labastida scored the team’s first goal of the New Year off an assist from Villarreal. After setting up the first goal, Villarreal scored his team’s second, making it 2-0 in the 60th by converting a penalty kick. Goalkeeper Dani Slepukin was credited with the shutout.
LA Galaxy U-18’s 6, CDA 1
Saturday, January 21
The Home Depot Center
The Galaxy U-18’s started 2012 the same way they ended 2011, by winning. Four players combined to score six goals as they beat the California Development Academy 6-1 at The Home Depot Center. Drew Murphy led the squad with three goals, his first hat trick of the season, while Sean Dhillon, William Raygoza and Sebastian Velasquez each contributed to the win by adding a goal each.
LA Galaxy U-16’s 2, Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Sunday, January 22
The Home Depot Center
Josue Espana had a good Sunday as he scored a goal and assisted on another to help the Galaxy U-16’s beat the Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-1 at The Home Depot Center. Espana gave the Galaxy the lead early in the second half while Matt Perez doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute with a goal of his own. The Whitecaps cut LA’s lead to 2-1 just before the hour mark, but the Galaxy defense held up the rest of the way to secure the win. Bryan Guzman finished the game with one assist.
LA Galaxy U-18’s 0, Vancouver Whitecaps 1
Sunday, January 22
The Home Depot Center
After starting the 2011/12 season with a 10-game unbeaten streak , the Galaxy U-18’s suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling 1-0 to Vancouver. The Whitecaps went ahead in the 29th minute and held on for the victory.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Game Date
LA Galaxy U-18’s at Arsenal FC Saturday, January 24
Game will be played at Riverside Community College in Riverside, Calif. starting at 11 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s at Arsenal FC Saturday, January 24
Game will be played at Riverside Community College in Riverside, Calif. starting at 1:30 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Tuesday, January 24. Click here for a complete schedule of games in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes the Galaxy Academy’s U-16 and U-18 teams.
