CARSON, Calif. (Friday, Oct. 4, 2013) – After back-to-back road victories to kick off the season, the LA Galaxy Academy Under-18 team earned their first home victory in the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with a 5-1 triumph over the San Diego Surf on Sunday.
The Galaxy Academy U-18’s were led by a four-goal performance from forward Adonis Amaya, who bagged a brace in each half, raising his season tally to a team-high five goals. Hugo Gutierrez added a fifth and final goal for the Galaxy in the 73rd minute to close out the scoring.
With the win, the Galaxy Academy U-18’s remain at the summit of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference with nine points, having picked up road wins over Seattle Sounders FC and the Portland Timbers the previous week.
Head coach Ante Razov’s squad, who has outscored the opposition 14-3 through three games, jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 31st minute when Amaya scored his first of the game before the Surf equalized in the 38th minute with a Bryce Flores goal. Amaya would put the Galaxy back in front two minutes later, sending his team into the halftime break with a 2-1 lead before LA added three second half goals to claim a 5-1 victory.
The Galaxy U-18’s will be back on the road on Saturday, Oct. 5 when they travel to the University of California-Irvine to take on Strikers FC at 1 p.m. The team will be back at home the following day with a home game on Sunday, Oct. 6 when they host Real Salt Lake AZ at 10 a.m. on the Track and Field Stadium at StubHub Center.
ROMERO AND WRIGHT IMPRESS WITH U.S. U-17 IN SPAIN: In the U.S. U-17 National Team’s final game in Spain, LA Galaxy Academy forward Haji Wright netted a hat-trick and an assist in the team’s 4-2 win over Rayo Vallecano’s on Friday to finish the team’s trip unbeaten in the 2013 ASG Cup. The U-17’s previously played out two consecutive draws against Real Madrid’s Academy, 1-1 on Sept. 30, and Las Rozas’ Academy, 2-2 on Oct. 2. The LA-native Wright, who scored seven goals for the Galaxy Academy U-16’s last season’s in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, was joined on the trip by Galaxy Academy goalkeeper and Altadena-native Abraham Romero. Both players were named to the 2013 Fall Semester of U.S. Soccer’s Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. last month. The trip to Spain was the first foreign trip for head coach Richie Williams and the U.S. U-17’s preparation for the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
LA GALAXY U-16’S FIGHT BACK FOR A POINT AT HOME: LA Galaxy Academy Under-16’s remained unbeaten in the 2013-14 U.S Soccer Development Academy season after coming from behind to earn a point from a 1-1 home draw with the San Diego Surf on Sunday. The Galaxy conceded a 27th minute opener to Jose Palacio but earned their fifth point in three games thanks to a 47th minute equalizer from Elan Koenig, who scored his first goal of the season. Head coach Mike Muñoz’s team returns to league action on Saturday, Oct. 5, with a trip to Strikers FC on the University of California-Irvine Stadium Field at 4 p.m. The following day, the U-16’s return home to host Real Salt Lake AZ in a game that kicks off at 12:30 p.m. on the Track and Field Stadium at StubHub Center.
LA GALAXY U-14’S JACOB MUCHNICK GETS U.S. BNT CALL-UP: On Monday, U.S. Boys National Team head coach Tony Lepore called up LA Galaxy Academy U-14 midfielder Jacob Muchnick for the first U.S. U-14 training camp of 2013. Muchnick was one of 48 players at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif. from Sept. 28 thru Oct. 6. As part of the camp, the team had an opportunity to observe Wednesday’s LA Galaxy training session and meet former U.S. National Team midfielder Pablo Mastroeni.
GALAXY U-14’S SHUT OUT SAN DIEGO: The LA Galaxy Academy U-14’s earned their first clean sheet of their inaugural season in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, beating the San Diego Surf 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center. Leonardo Zulli gave LA a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute with his first goal of the season. In the second half, Jose Ortiz added a second for the Galaxy in the 50th minute while Hanif Wright netted the third and final goal for the team three minutes later. The Galaxy Academy U-14’s, led by head coach Greg Vanney, return to USSDA action this weekend when the team travels to the University of California-Irvine Stadium Field on Saturday, Oct. 5 to take on Strikers FC at 11 a.m.
GALAXY U-14 B’S SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF SEASON: The LA Galaxy Academy U-14 B’s suffered a 2-1 loss to Pateadores on Saturday, their first of the season. The Galaxy U-14 B’s, led by head coach Ted Eck, will look to bounce back this Saturday at 12:05 p.m. at El Segundo High School Field #1 against the Irvine-based Strikers FC.
GALAXY U-12’S NORTH AND SOUTH SHOWCASE OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER: Both the LA Galaxy Academy U-12’s North and South sides lit up the scoreboard this weekend with nine and seven goals respectively in the Southern California Developmental Soccer League. The Galaxy Academy U-12 North cruised to a 9-2 win on Sunday over FC Golden State Gold at North Torrance High School. Earlier in the day, the Galaxy Academy U-12 South downed Exiles SC Black 7-2. Both sides will be on the road in SCSDL action on Saturday, Oct. 5, with the U-12 North team traveling to Dapplegray Lower School to take on Exiles SC Black at 9:25 a.m. while the U-12 South side heads to Santa Barbara SC White at the San Marcos High School Stadium at 12 p.m.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Game (Date)
LA Galaxy U-18’s @ Strikers FC (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at University of California, Irvine – Stadium Field at 1 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-18’s vs. Real Salt Lake AZ (Sunday, October 6)
Game will be played at StubHub Center – Track and Field Facility at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s @ Strikers FC (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at University of California, Irvine – Stadium Field at 4 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s vs. Real Salt Lake AZ (Sunday, October 6)
Game will be played at StubHub Center – Track and Field Facility at 12:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-14’s @ Strikers FC (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at University of California, Irvine – Stadium Field at 11 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-14’s B vs. Strikers FC (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at El Segundo High School – Field #1 at 12:05 p.m.
LA Galaxy North U-12’s @ Exiles SC Black (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at Dapplegray School – Lower Field at 9:25 a.m.
LA Galaxy South U-12’s @ Santa Barbara SC White (Saturday, October 5)
Game will be played at San Marcos High School – Stadium Turf Field at 12:00 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Thursday, Oct. 3. Click here for a complete schedule of games in the Southern California Development Soccer League and U.S. Soccer Development Academy, which includes the Galaxy Academy’s U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-18 teams.
