CARSON, Calif. – The LA Galaxy Academy teams are finally coming home.
After nearly a month of playing games in Arizona, San Diego and Seattle, the Academy will play their final two games of the season at The Home Depot Center, starting this Saturday with games against Arsenal FC at 11 a.m. (U-18’s) and 1:30 p.m. (U-16’s).
The Galaxy U-16’s (16-3-6 overall, 10-1-3 SoCal Division) are currently in second place of the standings, trailing Real Salt Lake-Arizona (17-6-4 overall, 11-4-1 SoCal Division) by one point, but can actually clinch the SoCal Division, with a win over Arsenal. The Galaxy, who clinched a berth in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs last weekend with their 6-0 win over Real So Cal, have two games in hand on RSL-Arizona, who played their final game of the regular season last weekend, and a win would move them two points clear of the Arizonan club with no chance of being caught.
The Galaxy U-18’s (18-4-3 overall, 10-3-1 SoCal Division) are in a similar position in their group, knowing that they can clinch a spot in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs this weekend with a win or a draw. They are currently tied for second place in the standings with Real Salt Lake-Arizona (14-8-5 overall, 9-3-4 SoCal Division), but RSL-Arizona already finished their regular season schedule while LA have two games to play yet. Just like the U-16’s, the U-18’s also have a shot at winning their division. They currently trail rival Chivas USA (16-6-4 overall, 10-2-3 SoCal Division) by two points in the standings, but with one game in hand, the Galaxy are in control of their own destiny. If the Galaxy U-18’s win their final two games of the season they will enter the playoffs as the top seed from the SoCal Division for the first time ever.
This is the first time in the history of the Galaxy Academy that both teams are in line to qualify for the Academy playoffs.
After this weekend’s games, the Galaxy’s close out the regular season against Nomads SC at The Home Depot Center on Saturday, June 2.
COPA LA: The 11th annual Copa LA Youth Soccer Tournament, presented by La Curacao, will kickoff this Memorial Day weekend at the Ab Brown Soccer Complex in Riverside, Calif. More than 113 teams, including the LA Galaxy Academy’s very own U-12, U-13 and U-14 teams will participate in of the largest unaffiliated tournaments in Southern California. The U-12 and U-14 teams will be amongst the teams to kickoff the tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. The U-13 team will play their first game that at 11:30 a.m. To see the entire schedule, or for more information on Copa LA, please visit click here.
MATCH RECAPS
LA Galaxy U-16’s 6, Real So Cal 0
Saturday, May 19
Oak Park High School
The LA Galaxy U-16’s clinched a spot in the Academy playoffs and extended their unbeaten streak to 15 games with a 6-0 win over Real So Cal. Forward Justin Dhillon and Angel Josue España each scored two goals while Justin Schottenhammer and Alejandro Vergara each added single tallies. With his two goals, Dhillon raised his total on the season to a team-high 18, one more than Jaime Villarreal who has 17. Daniil Slepuhkin and Grayson Cornwell combined for the shutout.
LA Galaxy U-18’s 2, Real So Cal 1
Saturday, May 19
Oak Park High School
With a goal in the 92nd minute by Mario Rodriguez, the LA Galaxy U-18’s beat Real So Cal, 2-1, to stay alive in the race for the SoCal Division title. Rodriguez’s goal, his sixth on the season, came after Sebastian Vazquez tied the game up in the 75th minute. The Galaxy were down 1-0 at halftime after Real So Cal took a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. The club has now won eight of their last 10 matches heading into the final two games of the regular season.
THE WEEK AHEAD
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. Arsenal FC
Saturday, May 26
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center at 12:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. Arsenal FC
Saturday, May 26
Game will be played at The Home Depot Center at 10 a.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Friday, May 25. 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.
