CARSON, Calif. -- This week the LA Galaxy first team will embark on their first trip of the season, a trip that includes a visit to the White House, but while they meet the President, the Galaxy Academy will face their own test as they take part in the prestigious Dallas Cup youth tournament in the Gordon Jago Super Group.
The Galaxy take an accomplished roster to Texas that includes the likes of Homegrown defender Oscar Sorto, defensive standouts like U-20 center back Javan Torre and goalkeeper Juan Cervantes as well midfielder wunderkinds Paul Arriola and Raul Mendiola, and forwards Justin Dhillon and Jaime Villarreal (brother of Jose Villarreal).
LA open tournament play on Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. PT against German club Eintract Frankfurt at the Cotton Bowl. LA then takes on Fulham FC at 10 a.m. PT on March 25 at the University of Texas at Dallas campus before concluding group play on March 27 against defending Dallas Cup champions Coritiba FC at 2 p.m. PT on the campus of Richland College.
Ahead of Dallas Cup, Sorto and Torre discuss the tournament below...
SORTO: "It'll be something special. Leading the team against such hard teams is going to be a big test for me and I'm expecting a lot from my teammates. We're just training and since our opponents are from other countries, we're just training and getting ready. I'm positive with the team that we're taking because last year, we went to Spain and did an excellent job so I'm confident that we can do well again."
TORRE: "The tournament has been around for 34 years and has a lot of prestige and I'm just glad to be a part of us...[This tournament] will definitely help me as a player. It's just more experience at a high level and it's always good to get those games in. I think that playing in front of such a crowd gives you a lot to work for."
Remember, Time Warner Cable Deportes is broadcasting all nine Gordon Jago Super Group games being held at the Cotton Bowl including the semifinals and the finals of the tournament.
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