LA Galaxy II Year in Review: Forwards

LA Galaxy II’s 52 goals scored in the 2016 campaign led the USL Western Conference. It was a 13-goal improvement on their 2015 season (two more games were added to their schedule) that helped the side to its third consecutive playoff berth.

Los Dos were league leaders in scoring throughout much of the season, thanks in part to the red-hot start from Jack McBean. McBean scored 15 goals in 17 games before being signed to LA Galaxy midseason then loaned to English League One club Coventry City for the remainder of 2016.

Left to carry the load were LA Galaxy’s Ariel Lassiter (LA Galaxy II’s leading scorer in 2015) and Jose Villarreal. Lassiter found the net nine times on the season, including a stretch late in the season when he scored six goals in his last seven regular season appearances.

Villarreal and youngster Adonis Amaya served as some of Los Dos’ most balanced contributors. Making 21 more appearances for Los Dos in 2016 than he did in 2015, Villarreal recorded six goals and five assists. Improving on his 13 appearances in 2015, Amaya tallied four goals and five assists in 22 appearances. The season included Amaya’s first professional goal, in a 2-1 win over OC Blues FC at StubHub Center Track & Field Stadium on July 2.

Ethan Zubak signed his first professional contract with LA Galaxy II on May 19, becoming the first player to participate in the LA Galaxy Academy Blended Learning Environment to sign a professional contract with the club. Zubak scored twice in 22 appearances, including his first professional goal in an away match against Real Monarchs SLC in his first start of the season.