CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy II head into the USL Playoffs without their leading goal scorer, but the departure of Jack McBean is no longer an issue for Los Dos.
McBean was Galaxy II’s primary offensive weapon at the start of the season with a remarkable 15 goals in just 17 appearances. After McBean’s loan to English side Coventry City in August, head coach Curt Onalfo was forced to go back to the drawing board and find others to shoulder the load.
With the Galaxy preparing to start their postseason campaign on Friday against Swope Park Rangers, Onalfo believes that his team has replaced the talented forward.
“Our team took a while to adjust to life without Jack McBean because he was a target hold up focal point players who scored 15 goals in 17 games. Anytime you have that adjustment, the way that we look at it is that it is an opportunity for someone else,” Onalfo said. “Guys are now stepping up, and we’ve become better defensively. Now we’re back to our form… that’s all we can control, and we go into Swope confident. We’ve been in these situations before, and we’re going there to win.”
Since McBean’s loan deal was announced, Ari Lassiter and Adonis Amaya have stepped up for Los Dos to carry the team into the postseason. Lassiter, in particular, has four goals in five games, while Amaya has notched a goal and two assists in three matches.
Ahead of their playoff match, Lassiter says he and Amaya are ready to take the lead and help Galaxy II advance on Friday.
“We had to adjust and gain chemistry. We’ve played very well together and are very compatible. We want to continue to play alongside each other and get goals. We’re extremely hungry.”
