LOS ANGELES (Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017) – The LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Unified Team finished off the 2017 season Sunday evening with a 4-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Special Olympics Northern California Unified Team. The match marked the end of the Galaxy SOSC Unified Team season as they finished with a 3-0-0 record, 20 goals scored and a +15 goal differential during their three games this season.
“We are incredibly proud of the efforts from all of the players on the LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team this season,” said LA Galaxy President Chris Klein. “Their commitment to working hard, playing for each other and promoting unity and inclusion through the sport of soccer have been exemplary this year. We are honored to have this group represent the LA Galaxy.”
The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team, led by MLS Special Olympics Unified All-Stars Giovanni Martinez and Jose Conde, took the field at StubHub Center immediately after the LA Galaxy hosted the San Jose Earthquakes in the final California Clasico of the 2017 MLS Regular Season. Conde, along with Carlos Arriaza, Dauda Opejin and Logan Jones, all tallied on the evening to give the team a 4-0 win in their final match of the season.
The team has previously earned a 5-2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes Unified Team in their opening match of the season before a 11-3 victory over the Portland Timbers Unified Team in their second game. Both matches were played on the road, with Sunday’s contest marking the team’s only home match at StubHub Center this year.
| 2017 LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California Unified Team Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date/Time | Result | Location |
Saturday, May 27 | LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team 5 San Jose SONC Unified Team 2 | Avaya Stadium – San Jose, California |
Saturday, Aug. 5 | LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team 11 Portland Timbers Unified Team 3 | Adidas Village – Portland, Oregon |
Sunday, Aug. 27 | LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team 4 San Jose SONC Unified Team 0 | StubHub Center – Los Angeles, California |
| 2017 LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California Unified Team | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | First Name | Last Name | Age | Height | Position | Hometown |
| 3 | Joshua | Wade | 25 | 5' 8" | Midfield | Pasadena |
| 4 | Giovanni | Martinez | 17 | 5' 8" | Defense/Goalie | Huntington Park |
| 5 | Josue | Foster | 20 | 5' 5" | Defense | Los Angeles |
| 6 | Daniel | Garcia | 20 | 5' 9" | Defense | Los Angeles |
| 7 | Jose | Gomez | 19 | 5' 6" | Midfield | Lynwood |
| 8 | Carlos | Arriaza | 23 | 5' 7" | Midfield | Costa Mesa |
| 9 | Dauda | Opejin | 18 | 5' 9" | Forward | Irvine |
| 10 | Carlos | Madrigal | 18 | 5' 8" | Midfield | Huntington Park |
| 11 | Josue | Garcia | 22 | 5' 9" | Midfield | Norwalk |
| 12 | Brianda | Rivera | 19 | 5' 1" | Forward | Palmdale |
| 13 | Logan | Jones | 20 | 6' 2" | Goalie/Forward | Simi Valley |
| 15 | Lauryn | De La Torre | 22 | 5' 7" | Defense | Newbury Park |
| 16 | Demi | Tavarez | 24 | 5' 8" | Midfield | Long Beach |
| 17 | Armando | Guzman | 20 | 5' 7" | Midfield | La Puente |
| 18 | Oliver | Fiust | 19 | 5' 4" | Midfield | Long Beach |
| 19 | Jose | Conde | 20 | 5' 3" | Forward | Los Angeles |
| 23 | Matthieu | Nunez | 18 | 5' | Defense | Los Angeles |
| 26 | Juan | Ortega | 18 | 5' 9" | Defense | Hawthorne |
| 28 | Lauren Nicole | Hernandez | 20 | 5.4" | Forward | Hacienda Heights |
| 85 | Armando | Saucedo | 23 | 5' 8" | Defense | San Pedro |
On May 9 this year, 20 players were named to the 2017 LA Galaxy SOSC Unified roster. Supported by Herbalife Nutrition, the LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Soccer team is a partnership between the LA Galaxy and Special Olympics Southern California that brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 16-25, together as teammates to participate in unique training, competition and social experiences.
After participating in an open tryout earlier in the season, the 20 players were selected based on three criteria: (1) their ability to value and work with teammates of all abilities, (2) their commitment to the Play Unified experience and their teammates, and (3) their understanding of the game of soccer and its rules.
The goal of Unified Sports is to bring people with and without intellectual disabilities together to compete, learn and grow on the same team – as equals. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports breaks down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a fun way. It was inspired by a simple principle: playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
LA Galaxy single-game tickets for the remainder of the 2017 MLS season remain available for purchase now. Galaxy fans can go to www.lagalaxy.com/tickets or call 877.3GALAXY (342.5299) for information, purchasing and special offers.
LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships for the 2018 Major League Soccer season are now available. Season Ticket Members and Galaxy fans can go to lagalaxy.com/since96 to secure their 2018 LA Galaxy Season Ticket Memberships, beginning as low as just $285 per seat ($15 per match). In addition to visiting lagalaxy.com/since96, fans can secure 2018 Season Ticket Memberships at StubHub Center by visiting the Galaxy tent atop Section 104 or 126 at any LA Galaxy home game. Fans can also call 1.877.3GALAXY (342.5299) and press 1 when prompted to secure Season Ticket Memberships.
