CARSON, Calif. – Three weeks after gathering for preseason physicals, the LA Galaxy headed to Scottsdale, Ariz. this week for the start of a 10-day training camp. While visiting the Grand Canyon State, the club will hold seven training sessions and play three games, including one against the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids and two versus the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
This is the third time in Arizona for the Galaxy in as many years. A total of 26 players made the trip, though just 24 were on Sunday’s morning flight from LAX - Gregg Berhalter arrived Sunday night while Adam Cristman is scheduled to arrive on Monday night. In addition to the 26 players, a total of 13 coaches and staff members made the trip.
In addition to their training sessions, which began on Monday, the team will make a handful of visits to the Athlete’s Performance facility in Phoenix, one of the region’s most state-of-the-art fitness centers.
TEAM NOTES
HIGH FIVE: The Galaxy officially added five players to their roster on Monday, agreeing to terms with MLS SuperDraft selections Paolo Cardozo and Hector Jimenez, as well as Supplemental Draft picks Dan Keat, Ryan Thomas and Dustin McCarty. All five joined the club for the start of preseason training three weeks ago. The contracts for Cardozo and Keat will each be finalized pending the receipt of their ITCs.
A native of Uruguay, Cardozo was selected by the Galaxy in the first round of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft after impressing at the annual MLS Combine. Jimenez, who was raised in nearby Bell Gardens, Calif., was taken one round later by the Galaxy with the 34th overall pick of the SuperDraft. The team then made three more selections in the Supplemental Draft, selecting New Zealand native Dan Keat as the third overall pick, followed by Stanford standout, Ryan Thomas, and UNC midfielder Dustin McCarty.
McBEAN PLAYS 17 MINUTES IN U.S. WIN: The U.S. Under-17 National Team earned a 3-1 win over Cuba in their first game of the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship at Catherine Hall Stadium in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Galaxy forward Jack McBean, who is the only professional on the U.S. roster, made his first appearance in an official competition for the U.S., entering the match in the 73rd minute, replacing Mario Rodriguez. The 16-year-old, who is the youngest player ever to sign with LA, made his international debut in a friendly against Jamaica in January. The Newport Beach, Calif. native will officially join the Galaxy following the 2011 CONCACAF U-17 Championship.
If the U.S. win their next game at the tournament, they will advance to the quarterfinals, which would leave them one win away from a berth in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
GALAXY EARN 1-1 DRAW WITH EARTHQUAKES:Before heading to Arizona for a 10-day training camp, the Galaxy took on the San Jose Earthquakes at The Home Depot Center last week in a preseason game. San Jose opened the scoring, but the Galaxy came from behind to equalize late in the game, earning a 1-1 draw.
The Earthquakes gained an early lead in the fourth minute with a close-range goal from Ike Opara. With only six minutes remaining in the match Paolo Cardozo whipped a left-footed freekick into the box for Mike Magee, who rose above the San Jose defense to head past Earthquakes goalkeeper Jake Gleeson from six yards out, earning the Galaxy a 1-1 draw.
Defender Todd Dunivant made his first appearance for the Galaxy since undergoing a sports hernia surgery in the off-season. He started the match at left back and was replaced in the 34th minute by Frankie Hejduk.
The Galaxy have played three games so far this preseason, compiling an 0-0-2 record against MLS opposition, having also played to a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers last Tuesday. LA beat Loyola Marymount University in their first game of the preseason on February 4.
GALAXY TO PLAY CLUB TIJUANA ON MARCH 2 AT TORERO STADIUM: The LA Galaxy will play Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente of Mexico’s Liga de Ascenso in the "San Diego Clasico", presented by Freeway Insurance, on Wednesday, March 2 at 7 p.m. The game will be played at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.
Club Tijuana is coached by former Club America and Mexican National Team midfielder JoaquÃn Del Olmo, who in his first season with the club guided the Xoloitzcuintles to their first title last December, winning the Liga de Ascenso Apertura Season. Led by their captain Javier Gandolfi, goalkeeper Adrian Zermeno and forward Raúl EnrÃquez, last season, Club Tijuana posted an impressive 11-1-5 record and only conceded seven goals all year, including playoffs. Five games into the Clausura Season, the Xoloitzcuintles have an 0-1-4 record after posting a 2-2 home draw against Merida on Sunday.
Tickets are on sale now starting at just $25 by calling the University of San Diego’s JCP Ticket Office at (619) 260-7550 or by clicking here.
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