CARSON, Calif. (Friday, April 27, 2012) – The LA Galaxy U-16 and U-18 teams travel to Arizona this weekend to play two crucial games against Real Salt Lake-Arizona at the Casa Grande Sports World complex on Saturday and Sunday. The games on Sunday were originally to be played at The Home Depot Center on April 1, but were rescheduled in order to fit in the club’s trip to Spain to play in the Real Sociedad XXVII Youth Invitational Tournament.
For the club, the games don’t get much bigger than this weekend as both clubs are jostling for playoff positioning in both age groups.
The Galaxy U-18’s (15-1-3 overall, 8-1-1 SoCal Division) have two divisional games in hand on RSL-Arizona (10-7-5 overall, 6-2-4 SoCal Division) and are three points ahead of them in the standings in second place. The club can widen the gap between the two teams if they come out with the same focus they’ve had the last two games, which they’ve won by a combined score of 9-0.
The first game between the Galaxy U-18’s and RSL-Arizona is Saturday on Field 6 of the Casa Grande Sports complex at 10 a.m. The two teams will face each other again the next day on the same field at the same time, but this time the Galaxy will technically be the team since this is a game that was rescheduled.
The competition will be just as fierce at the U-16 level, where the LA Galaxy (12-3-4 overall, 7-1-2 SoCal Division) have an opportunity to overtake RSL-Arizona (15-5-2 overall, 9-3-0 SoCal Division) in points for the top spot in the division standings. The Galaxy are currently four points behind RSL-Arizona though they have two games in hand.
The U-16’s enter the weekend having won their last two games by a combined scored of 7-1, with Johnny Arrellano, Justin Dhillon, and Steve Martinez leading the way. The trio has combined to score five goals in the recent wins over Strikers FC and the San Diego Surf. At the other end of the field, goalkeeper Dannil Slepukhin has yet to allow a goal since combing back from Spain, recording a shutout in the win over Strikers and then keeping San Diego off the scoreboard in the 52 minutes he played last week.
Much like the U-18’s, the Galaxy U-16’s will face RSL-Arizona twice this weekend. The first game will be Saturday with the second one taking place Sunday. Both games will kick off at 12:30 p.m. on Field 6 of the Casa Grande Sports complex.
MATCH RECAPS
LA Galaxy U-18’s 5, San Diego Surf FC 0
Saturday, April 21
The Home Depot Center
Not sure what the team ate in Spain, but whatever it was it’s working. The LA Galaxy U-18 Academy team put together another solid performance over the weekend soundly beating the San Diego Surf, 5-0. A week ago the team beat Strikers FC, 4-0. Goals came from four different players on both sides of the half. First team player Jose Villarreal (Inglewood, Calif.) had two on the day, he is still continuing to regain match fitness after returning to the field from surgery. Another first team player, Jack McBean (Newport Beach, Calif.), made it on to the scoresheet as well, as did Drew Murphy (Palos Verdes, Calif.) and Sebastian Velasquez (Los Angeles, Calif.). Juan Cervantes (Gardena, Calif.) and Steven Barrera combined for the shutout.
LA Galaxy U-16’s 5, San Diego Surf FC 1
Saturday, April 21
The Home Depot Center
Steve Martinez (Los Angeles, Calif.) scored two goals and Jonny Arellano, Justin Dhillon (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and Ivan Vasquez (Fullerton, Calif.) each added one as the LA Galaxy U-16 Academy team beat the San Diego Surf, 5-1, on Sunday. Vasquez, a defender, put the Galaxy up 1-0 in the 12th minute. Arellano then doubled the lead just before the half-hour mark in the 24th minute. The club scored three goals in the second half, two were by Martinez, who came off the bench in the 60th minute and quickly inserted himself into the scoresheet in the 63rd and 70th minutes. Dhillon minute rounded out the scoring in the 75th.
THE WEEK AHEAD
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Saturday, April 28
Game will be played at Casa Grande Sports World on Field 6 at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Saturday, April 28
Game will be played at Casa Grande Sports World on Field 6 at 12:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Sunday, April 29
Game will be played at Casa Grande Sports World on Field 6 at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. Real Salt Lake-Arizona
Sunday, April 29
Game will be played at Casa Grande Sports World on Field 6 at 12:30 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Tuesday, April 17. Click here for a complete schedule of games in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes the Galaxy Academy’s U-16 and U-18 teams.
