CARSON, Calif. (Thursday, May 2, 2013) – Despite having six of their regulars unavailable for selection, the LA Galaxy Academy U-18’s got goals from six different players in a 6-1 win over the San Diego Surf last Saturday in Development Academy regular season action.
Forward Justin Dhillon gave the Galaxy an early lead just three minutes into the match when he scored his team-leading 13th goal of the season. In the 19th minute, Paul Arriola doubled the club’s lead to 2-0 with his fifth goal of the year. Just before the half hour mark, Sebastian Velasquez made it 3-0 with his seventh of the season.
In the second half, Lucas Da Silva, Cameron Marlow and Aaron Lombardi added to the tally by scoring goals in the 46th, 47th, and 59th minutes. It was the first goal of the season for Marlow while it was just the second for Da Silva and the third for Lombardi. The Surf’s Price Parker recorded the home team’s lone tally, grabbing a late consolation goal in the 90th minute.
Due to National Team duty, MLS Reserve league commitments and injuries, the Galaxy were without six regulars, including their captain Sorto, who was training with the U.S. Under-20. They were also without Mendiola, who’s second on the team with 10 goals, midfielder Drew Murphy and defender Nathan Smith, all three of which were in Salt Lake with the LA Galaxy to play in an MLS Reserve League game against Real Salt Lake. The team was also without goalkeeper Josh McNeely and midfielder Willie Raygoza due to injuries.
The win extends the Galaxy’s winning streak to six games and puts the club (16-4-3, 51 pts.) within five points of division leader Real Salt Lake-Arizona (17-3-4, 55 pts.), which travels to Carson this weekend to take on the Galaxy on Sunday at 10 a.m. at The Home Depot Center.
LA have two Development Academy games this weekend. On Saturday they travel to Orange County to take on Irvine-based Strikers FC at 10 a.m. at Orange Coast College. The next day they host RSL-Arizona at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy have a game in-hand on RSL and could surpass their rivals for the division lead this weekend if they win both of their games and RSL lose Saturday against Chivas USA.
GALAXY U-16’S GET BACK ON WINNING TRACK: The LA Galaxy U-16’s scored a dramatic, come-from-behind win on the road on Saturday to claim their sixth win of the season. Down a goal with time winding down, Galaxy forward Steve Martinez scored twice in the final two minutes of the game to give the team a 2-1 win over the San Diego Surf. Martinez has now scored a team-best 15 goals in 15 games played with the Galaxy this season, including seven goals in the last four games. The game was a physical affair that featured eight cards, with the referee issuing six bookings and two red cards, one for each team. The Galaxy have two games this weekend, first against the Irvine-based Strikers FC this Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Orange Coast College and then against Real Salt Lake-Arizona on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at The Home Depot Center. The Galaxy are currently seventh in the Southwest Division standings with a 6-9-8 record and 26 points.
IAN SARACHAN HIRED AT UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN: The University of Wisconsin’s Men’s Soccer Team announced yesterday that the school has hired LA Galaxy Academy U-18 Assistant Coach Ian Sarachan. He joins head coach John Trask’ staff as an assistant. Trask was Sarachan’s college head coach at the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2006-2009. Sarachan, the son of Galaxy Associate Head Coach Dave Sarachan, began his coaching career with the Galaxy Academy in 2012 as assistant coach on the Galaxy’s U-14 and U-16 teams before being named U-18 assistant coach on Jan. 30. As assistant of the club’s U-18’s, he helped Head Coach Alex Yi guide the team to 16-4-3 record and a berth in the U.S. Soccer 2012/13 Development Academy Playoffs before stepping down from his position in order to join Badgers.
GALAXY U-14’S AND U-15’S ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CUP KNOCKOUT STAGE: Two LA Galaxy Academy teams advanced to the Round of 32 of the Cal South National Cup, which is the qualifying tournament for the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Far West Regionals. The U-15’s, who finished second in Group K, will face West Coast FC on Sunday at 8 a.m. at the Lancaster Soccer Complex. At that same complex on Saturday, the U-14’s led by forwards Patrick Murphy and Jesus Nuñez, who spearheaded the team’s offensive output of nine goals in two games in the group stage, will go up against the Fullerton Rangers at 8 a.m. If they win, they will face the winner of the FC Heat-N.V.S.C. matchup in the Round of 16 this Sunday at 10 a.m. The finals of the Cal South National Cup for both age groups will be at Rancho Capistrano Soccer Complex— the U-14’s final is scheduled to be played Saturday, May 18 while the U-15’s final is set for Sunday, May 19. The winner advances to the US Youth Soccer National Championship Series Far West Regionals, which are being held this year in Honolulu, Hawaii from June 17-23.
SIX ADVANDCE FROM LA TRYOUTS TO SUEÑO MLS FINALS:Major League Soccer announced today the final roster of 15 talented young field players and three “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate finalists, who will compete in the National Finals of Sueño MLS 2013 – Presented by Allstate. The field was set when the final six participants were selected by MLS and the LA Galaxy.
Of the 350 players that participated in the tryouts on Saturday, the final six selected were Victor Balanzar from Anaheim, Heriberto Becerra from Fontana, Erick Bermudez from South Gate, Josue Soto from Perris, Josua Varon from Bakersfield and Edgar Villapando from Wilmington.
The six will join the rest of the national finalists at The Home Depot Center from May 9 to 12 for four days of competition and mentoring by soccer legends such as Carlos “El Pibe” Valderrama. The Sueño MLS 2013 – Presented by Allstate winner and the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate – will be announced May 12 live on Univision Network’s República Deportiva, which has chronicled the competition in a “reality show within a show” format.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
LA Galaxy U-14’s vs. Fullerton Rangers – Cal South National Cup Round of 32
Saturday, May 4
Game will be played at Lancaster NSC – Field 24 at 8 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-15’s vs. West Coast FC – Cal South National Cup Round of 32
Saturday, May 4
Game will be played at Lancaster NSC – Field 17 at 8 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-18’s vs. Strikers FC
Saturday, May 4
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center – Orange Coast College at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s vs. Strikers FC
Saturday, May 4
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center – Orange Coast College at 12:30 p.m.
TBD vs. TBD – Cal South National Cup Round of 16
Sunday, May 5
Game will be played at Lancaster NSC – Field 10 at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-18’s vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Sunday, May 5
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center – Track and Field at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Sunday, May 5
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center – Track and Field at 12:30 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Monday, April 29. Click here for a complete schedule of games in the Southern California Development Soccer League and U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes the Galaxy Academy’s U-16 and U-18 teams.
