CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015) – Twelve LA Galaxy Academy products signed their letter of intent to attend a total of eight universities across the United States on Wednesday as they look to begin the next stage of their soccer development. LA Galaxy Academy’s Bennett Sneddon (Goalkeeper), Dakota Havlick (Goalkeeper), Élan Koenig (Defender), Malcolm Jones (Defender), Michael Lopez (Defender), Santiago Digiuseppe (Midfielder), Christian Segovia (Midfielder), Adrian Vera (Midfielder), Juan Orozco (Midfielder), Robert Knights (Forward), Dylan Smith (Forward), and Rey Ortiz (Forward) have all committed to play collegiate soccer.
“It is of no surprise that the LA Galaxy Academy attracts the interests of colleges nationwide,” said LA Galaxy Academy Director Peter Vagenas. “We are fully committed to producing young professionals.”
Three of LA’s young prospects will be attending UCLA including goalkeeper Dakota Havlick, forward Robert Knights and defender Malcolm Jones, who is ranked eighth in the IMG Academy Top 150. Also well represented is Cal State Northridge which will be attended by LA Galaxy U-18 leading goal scorer Adrian Vera and midfielder Juan Orozco.
Also heading off to college this fall will be Bennett Sneddon (Duke University), Élan Koenig (University of Wisconsin), Santiago Digiuseppe (University of San Francisco), Michael Lopez (UC Irvine), Dylan Smith (UC Riverside) and UC Berkeley attendees Chris Segovia and Rey Ortiz.
Although the group of 12 players will be attending various universities this fall, they will all remain integral parts of the Galaxy U-18’s for the remainder of the 2014/15 U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy season. Currently, the U-18’s are 11-4-3 this season and return to action this weekend with a pair of games against the San Diego Surf FC U-18 side on Saturday, Feb. 7 and Real Salt Lake AZ U-18’s on Sunday, Feb. 8 at StubHub Center.
The following LA Galaxy Academy Players announced their official university commitments (in alphabetical order by last name):
Santiago Digiuseppe
- Position: Midfielder
- DOB: 12/18/1996
- Hometown: San Clemente, CA
- University: University of San Francisco
Dakota Havlick
- Position: Goalkeeper
- DOB: 02/15/1997
- Hometown: Murrieta, CA
- University: UCLA
Malcolm Jones
- Position: Defender
- DOB: 4/18/97
- Hometown: Chino Hills, CA
- University: UCLA
Robert Knights
- Position: Forward
- DOB: 03/31/1997
- Hometown: Irvine, CA
- University: UCLA
Élan Koenig
- Position: Defender
- DOB: 03/18/1997
- Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
- University: University of Wisconsin
Michael Lopez
- Position: Defender
- DOB: 6/5/1997
- Hometown: Cypress, CA
- University: UC Irvine
Juan Orozco
- Position: Midfielder
- DOB: 08/19/1997
- Hometown: Downey, CA
- University: Cal State Northridge
Rey Ortiz
- Position: Forward
- DOB: 01/06/1997
- Hometown: San Diego, CA
- University: UC Berkeley
Christian Segovia
- Position: Midfielder
- DOB: 01/31/1997
- Hometown: Tarzana, CA
- University: UC Berkeley
Dylan Smith
- Position: Forward
- DOB: 1/21/1997
- Hometown: Anaheim Hills, CA
- University: UC Riverside
Bennett Sneddon
- Position: Goalkeeper
- DOB: 4/4/1997
- Hometown: Calabasas, CA
- University: Duke University
Adrian Vera
- Position: Midfielder
- DOB: 1/13/1997
- Hometown: Norwalk, CA
- University: Cal State Northridge
