CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, April 19, 2012) – LA Galaxy Academy players Raul Mendiola and Oscar Sorto helped the Galaxy Reserves claim their first win of the season on Monday, beating Seattle Sounders FC 1-0 at The Home Depot Center. The duo, who each helped the Galaxy U-18’s claim a 4-0 win over Strikers FC in Development Academy play on Saturday, each came on as second half substitutes with the score tied 0-0 and were on the field when Rafael Garcia scored the game-winning goal with a 90th minute header.
READ: Academy stars help Galaxy earn first Reserve League win
Mendiola, who made his Reserve League debut two weeks ago against Chivas USA, collected his first-ever Reserve League assist against the Sounders, crossing from the left flank for Garcia’s game-winning header. Mendiola, who is in his first season with the Academy, entered the game in the 77th minute for Kyle Nakazawa and terrorized Seattle’s right back in his short time on the field. His hard work paid off in the 90th minute when he tracked down a Hector Jimenez cross and then beat his man to the endline before clipping a cross into the center of the box for Garcia to power a header home for the game-winning goal.
Sorto made his Reserve League debut in the 87th minute, coming on at right back in place of Bryan Jordan.
Former Galaxy Academy star Jose Villarreal, who signed with the club as a Homegrown Player in December, also made an appearance in the game, replacing Pat Noonan in the 70th minute. Immediately after coming on, Villarreal created a trio of scoring chances, combining well up front with Adam Cristman, but he was unable to find a way past Seattle goalkeeper Bryan Meredith.
A SPANISH EXPERIENCE: After beating C.A. Osasuna in penalty kicks, the LA Galaxy U-18’s lost their next two games by the narrowest of margins and were eliminated from the final round of competition of the Real Sociedad XXVII Youth Invitational tournament on the final day of group play with a 2-1 loss to host Real Sociedad. Sandwiched in between those two results was a loss to Valencia C.F., 5-4, in penalty kicks.
READ: Academy in Spain
While in Spain, the team had the opportunity to train at Ciudad de Futbol, the official training center of the Spanish National Team. Following one of those training sessions, the squad met Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper during Spain’s run to the 2010 FIFA World Cup title. The next day they saw Casillas in action as he helped his club team, Real Madrid, beat APOEL in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
U-14’s AND U-15’s REACH DALLAS CUP QUARTERFINALS: LA Galaxy U-14 and U-15 teams each made it to the Quarterfinals of the 2012 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXXIII, which were played at FC Dallas Stadium earlier this month. The Galaxy U-15’s were eliminated by Northern California-based Milan FC Rossoneri in the quarterfinals, falling 2-1. After a scoreless first half, the Rossoneri took a 2-0 lead early in the second half with a pair of goals four minutes apart. Galaxy forward Collin Hossum cut the lead to 2-1 in the 67th minute, but that was as close as the Galaxy would get. Hossum finished with three goals in the tournament, tied with Alejandro Vergara for most on the team.
READ: Galaxy Academy Updates from the Dallas Cup
The Galaxy U-14’s were also eliminated at the quarterfinal stage, losing 1-0 to Southern California rival Arsenal FC. The Galaxy, who qualified on the last day of group play by beating top-ranked FC Dallas Premier 2-1, went behind 1-0 in the 28th minute. They pushed for an equalizer but could not break through the Arsenal defense and were eliminated from the competition.
BACK AT HOME: After traveling to Spain, and playing in Orange County last week, the LA Galaxy U-16 and U-18 teams return to The Home Depot Center this Saturday to take on the San Diego Surf. The Galaxy U-18’s will kickoff first at 10 a.m. with the U-16’s following at 12:30 p.m.
TRIO RETURNS FROM U.S. U-20 CAMP: Forward Jack McBean and defenders Javan Torre and Jeffrey Payeras are back in Southern California and training with the Galaxy U-18’s after spending a week training with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in Portland, Ore. McBean came on in the 72nd minute of the U.S. squad’s 1-0 win over the University of Washington. Torre was part of the 18-man roster but did not play while Payeras did not dress for that game.
MATCH RECAPS
LA Galaxy U-18 4, Strikers FC 0
Saturday, April 14
Orange Coast College
In their first game back in the U.S. after playing in the Real Sociedad Youth Invitational Tournament, the LA Galaxy U-18’s beat Strikers FC 4-0 Saturday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif. Grady Howe, Raul Mendiola, Mario Rodriguez and Jose Villarreal each scored a goal while Juan Cervantes recorded his sixth shutout of the season. With the win, the Galaxy improved to 14-1-3 on the season, including 7-1-1 in the SoCal Division. They are currently in third place in the standings with three games in hand on division leader Chivas USA and second-place Real Salt Lake Arizona.
LA Galaxy U-16 2, Strikers FC 0
Saturday, April 14
Orange Coast College
With goals from Juan Arellano and Rolando Muñoz, the LA Galaxy U-16’s beat Strikers FC 2-0 Saturday at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif. While it was Arellano who gave the club an early lead with a goal in the 13th minute, it was Muñoz who put the game away in the 72nd minute. The shutout was the eighth for the club on the season. With the win, the Galaxy improved to 11-3-4 on the season and 6-1-2 in the SoCal Division. They are currently in second place with three games in hand on division leader Real Salt Lake Arizona and third-place Chivas USA.
THE WEEK AHEAD
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. San Diego Surf
Saturday, April 21
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center on Field 5 at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. San Diego Surf
Saturday, April 21
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center on Field 5 at 12:30 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Tuesday, April 17. 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.
