CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, May 3, 2012) – The LA Galaxy announced today the formation of a youth-soccer partnership with Visalia Youth Soccer League, which is the largest competitive soccer league in Tulare County with more than 40 teams and 700 players. It’s also the first partnership the Galaxy have formed with a club in Central California.
The Galaxy and Visalia YSL will share coaching resources and staff while creating a common curriculum and methodology for developing young players. Top players from Visalia YSL will be able to move onto LA Galaxy Academy teams, while also providing Visalia YSL teams with access to the best staff, facilities and resources to perform at the highest level in all facets of the game.
Additionally, the partnership with Visalia Youth Soccer is the first one that encompasses an entire league from recreation teams all the way up to premier-level competitive teams.
"The Galaxy Academy is excited about this partnership with Visalia Youth Soccer,” said LA Galaxy Vice President Chris Klein. “Visalia Youth Soccer is committed to developing the next generation of soccer players and we want to help them reach their goal."
LA Galaxy Academy coaches will be in Visalia to conduct a free clinic to youth players between the ages of 4 – 10 on Saturday, May 12 at 12:30 p.m. at the Riverway Sports Park, located in 3611 N. Dinuba Hwy., Visalia, Calif. Registration for the clinic will start at 10 a.m. The LA Galaxy Academy coaches will also be providing two three-day clinics to all registered players in the Visalia Youth Soccer League later this year.
MATCH RECAPS
LA Galaxy U-16’s 3, Real Salt Lake – Arizona 0
Saturday, April 28
Casa Grande Sports Complex
Facing the team they directly trailed for control of the SoCal Division, the Galaxy U-16’s got the weekend started on the right foot with a 3-0 victory over Real Salt Lake – Arizona. Neither team scored before halftime, but after the break, the Galaxy exploded, finding the net three times. Ronaldo Munoz opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. The score remain 1-0 for 10 minute, and then the U-16’s quickly put a RSL – Arizona comeback out of reach when Angel Josue Espana and Justin Dhillon scored in the 64th and 69th minutes respectively. The hosts were playing down a man after Luis Chavez was shown a red card. Galaxy goalkeepers Daniil Slepukhin and Grayson Cornwell combined on the shutout.
LA Galaxy U-18’s 1, Real Salt Lake – Arizona 3
Saturday, April 28
Casa Grande Sports Complex
In their first game in Arizona, the U-18’s took a first-half lead, but could not build or hang on to it in the second half. After Jose Villarreal put the Galaxy up with a goal in the 31st minute, Real Salt Lake – Arizona scored three unanswered goals to capture a 3-1 victory. Ten minutes after Villarreal opened the scoring, Maikon Orrellana evened things up for RSL – Arizona. Orrellana then scored again in the 57th minute, giving RSL-Arizona its first lead of the game. In the 66th minute, RSL – Arizona’s Jordan Allen put the finishing touch on the victory with a goal of his own to make it 3-1.
LA Galaxy U-16’s 2, Real Salt Lake – Arizona 2
Sunday, April 29
Casa Grande Sports Complex
With goals from Juan Reyna and Martin Arrieta, the LA Galaxy U-16’s picked up a 2-2 draw in Arizona, but more importantly stayed within one point of first-place RSL – Arizona. The U-16’s do, however, have two games in hand on the division leaders. Down 2-0, the Galaxy cut the lead in half when Reyna took a pass from Alex Vergara and hit a low drive shot to the far post in the 60th minute. Four minutes later, Reyna was once again active down his side and picked out Arrieta inside the box. He hit a one-time shot with his left foot into the top corner for the game-tying goal.
LA Galaxy U-18’s 1, Real Salt Lake – Arizona 4
Sunday, April 29
Casa Grande Sports Complex
The U-18’s rough weekend in the desert continued on Sunday when they fell 4-1 to Real Salt Lake – Arizona’s U-18’s. A scoreless first half gave way to five goals in the second, including a hat-trick from Jean-Pierre Bello who scored in the 52nd, 64th and 75th minutes. Pedro Lugo pulled one back for the Galaxy U-18’s with a goal in the 87th minute, but Etiandro Tavares tacked on the final goal for RSL – Arizona in the 90th minute to seal the result. In a game that featured 11 cards shown, the Galaxy were hurt by Jack McBean being sent off for a second yellow. Falling twice to RSL – Arizona put the Galaxy U-18’s in third place in the SoCal division standings with 25 points in the division. RSL – Arizona leads the division with 28 points and Chivas USA U-18’s are in second place, two points ahead of the Galaxy.
THE WEEK AHEAD
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. Nomads SC
Saturday, May 5
Game will be played at Kinsell field in San Diego at 12 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. Nomads SC
Saturday, May 5
Game will be played at Kinsell field in San Diego 6 at 2:30 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Tuesday, May 1. 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.
