College Signing Day is a national holiday among those that follow college football. While college soccer’s own signing day does not get the same level of exposure and scrutiny, it is an important deal as well.
Seven LA Galaxy Academy products signed their letter of intent to schools across the country on Friday as they look set to begin the next stage of their soccer development.
Leading the way is Galaxy Academy starlet Paul Arriola, who is currently training with the club’s first team throughout the preseason. Arriola has committed to national powerhouse UCLA for the fall semester. Joining Arriola at UCLA are two other Academy players; defender Nathan Smith and midfielder Willie Raygoza. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Josh McNeely and midfielder Drew Murphy are heading to Isla Vista to attend UC Santa Barbara while highly touted forward prospect Justin Dhillon is heading to Cal Poly.
Rounding out the group is defender Vincent Reyes, who is off to Florida International University in Miami, where he will be coached by Bruce Arena’s son Kenny, a former Galaxy U-16 head coach.
