CARSON, Calif. (Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013) – The LA Galaxy Academy U-18’s trip to the Pacific Northwest this past weekend can only be classified as a success.
The squad returned home having won both of its road games by a combined score of 9-2. Playing their first official game under new head coach Ante Razov, the Galaxy were dominant in their season opening 4-1 win over the Seattle Sounders FC U-18’s on Saturday and a 5-1 win over the Portland Timbers U-18’s the next day. The games marked the start of the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season for the Galaxy.
Midfielder Jaime Villarreal, younger brother of Galaxy forward Jose Villarreal, led the squad with three goals in the two games, scoring once in the win over Seattle and then adding a pair against the Timbers. He was joined on the scoresheet by forward Steve Martinez, who score once in each game after finishing last season with 18 goals. Newcomers Adonis Amaya and Bradford Jamieson IV each scored a goal on the weekend, as did the returning Christian Chavez and Aaron Lombardi.
Against the Sounders on Saturday, the Galaxy built an early two-goal lead when forwards Amaya and Lombardi scored goals one-minute apart in the 12th and 13th minutes of the game, respectively. Less than 10 minutes laster, Vllarreal made it 3-0 when he scored his first goal of the season in the 21st minute. The Galaxy added to their lead in the second half thanks to a goal from Martinez in the 74th minute while the Sounders pulled a goal back two minutes later, giving the game a final scoreline of 4-1 in favor of the visitors.
One day later against the Timbers, Villarreal scored in the 15th and 21st minutes of the game to give the Galaxy another early 2-0 lead. Portland quickly responded by pulling a goal back in the 25th minute to make it 2-1. However, Chavez restored LA's two goal advantage in the 38th minute to make the score 3-1 going into the break. In the second half, Martinez got his second of the season in 60th minute and Jamieson got his first in the 67th minute to give the Galaxy a 5-1 win.
The results were thta much more impressive considering that the team was without defenders Malcolm Jones and Elijah Martin for both games. The defensive duo stayed behind to take part in a U.S. Soccer U-18 National Team camp that started last Sunday at StubHub Center.
This week, the Galaxy Academy returns to Southern California to begin preparations for their first home game of the season, a triple-header against the San Diego Surf on Sunday, Sept. 29 on the Galaxy’s Training Field at StubHub Center. The games start at 10 a.m. with the U-18’s taking the field first, followed by the U-16’s at 12:30 p.m. and then the U-14’s at 3 p.m.
GALAXY U-16 GET 6-0 WIN IN PORTLAND: The LA Galaxy Academy U-16’s also opened the 2013-14 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with a trip to Seattle and Portland to take on academy teams from the Sounders and Timbers. After a 1-1 draw in the season opener in Seattle, the Galaxy responded with a 6-0 win in Portland. Forward Jorge Ruiz scored his first hat trick with Galaxy Academy scoring in the 16th, 20th and 38th minutes of the win over Portland. Forward Jesus Nuñez, one of the top scorers from last year’s Galaxy Academy U-14 team, scored added a pair of second half goals while Michael Lopez tallied in a 36th minute goal that helped LA take a 4-0 lead into the half.
The scoring explosion came one day after a 1-1 draw with the Sounders in which the Galxy fell behind 1-0 in the 52nd minute, only for the Galaxy to equalize thanks to an own goal in the 38th minute. At 12:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, the Galaxy Academy U-16’s host the San Diego Surf in their home opener at StubHub Center.
LA GALAXY U-14’s READY FOR BIG GAME AFTER BYE WEEK: After having a bye week, the LA Galaxy Academy U-14’s are back in action this weekend. The Galaxy, who have started the U.S. Soccer Development Academy season with a perfect 2-0-0 record, host the San Diego Surf at StubHub Center Sunday at 3 p.m. The game is the third-game of a triple header being played that day between the two clubs. Much like the Galaxy, the Surf are also unbeaten so far in the season and currently hold first place in the Southwest Division with a 3-0-0 record. Their 11 goals are most in the division, as is their plus-9 goal difference. The Galaxy, who have played one game less than the Surf, are tied for third in the division with seven goals. Forwards Noa Harrison and Jesus Nuñez have combined to score six of the club’s seven goals, each scoring a team-best three goals. Nunez, who scored twice for the U-16's against Portland on Sunday, now has five goals in three games in Development Academy play this season.
ROMERO AND WRIGHT TO TRAVEL TO SPAIN WITH U.S. U-17: LA Galaxy Academy U-18 goalkeeper Abraham Romero and forward Haji Wright were two of 20 players named to the U.S. Under-17 National Team squad that will compete in the 2013 ASG Cup in Spain. Romero and Wright are currently Bradenton, Fla., taking part in the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program. The U.S. U-17 National Team, led by head coach Richie Williams, travel to Alicante, Spain to face academy teams from Real Madrid (Sept. 30), Rayo Vallecano (Oct. 2) and one team that’s still to be determined (Oct. 4). Additionally, the squad will also get opportunity to tour La Ciudad de Futbol, the Spanish Soccer Federation’s national training center, and Ciudad Real Madrid, Real Madrid’s training facility. The team departs for Alicante, Spain on Sept. 25 and returns to the U.S. on Oct. 6.
GALAXY U-14 B’S EARN DRAW, GALAXY U-16 B’S LOOKING TO BOUNCE BACK: The LA Galaxy Academy U-14 B’s came back twice on FC Golden State White to earn a 2-2 draw in their season opener last weekend. After conceding the first goal, Victor Onofre leveled the score at 1-1 at the 30th minute. FC Golden State White would go up again in the game, only to see the Galaxy come back again when Sergio Flores scored the equalizer near the end of the game at the 77th minute. This weekend, the Ted Eck-coached side, travel to Orange County to take Pateadores AV/MV in SCDSL action on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 10:35 p.m. at the Serrano Intermediate School in Lake Forrest, Calif. While the U-14 B’s got the draw, the Galaxy Academy U-16 B’s suffered their second loss in as many weeks as they fell 3-2 at home to FC Golden State Platinum. Kevin Diaz and Eric Iloski each scored in the loss for the Galaxy, who will be back in action this Saturday when they take on Real So Cal White at 6:45 p.m. at Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif.
GALAXY U-12’S PICK UP DRAWS IN SCDSL ACTION: The LA Galaxy Academy U-12 North and South teams earned a pair of draws over the weekend in Southern California Developmental Soccer League action. The Galaxy U-12 South team remained unbeaten and improved to 3-0-1 in the season with a 1-1 draw with FRAM Soccer Club. Their 10 points are tied for third most in the SCDSCL U-12 Boys Flight 1 standings. The Galaxy U-12 North team also picked up a draw on the weekend, a 0-0 result with FC Golden State Gold, one of three teams tied for third place in the standings with 10 points. With the draw, the Galaxy U-12 North now have 5 points.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Game (Date)
LA Galaxy South U-12’s vs. Exiles SC Black (Saturday, September 28)
Game will be played at North Torrance High School – Stadium Field at 8 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-14’s B vs. Pateadores AV/MV (Saturday, September 28)
Game will be played at Serrano Intermediate School at 10:35 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s B @ Real SoCal White (Saturday, September 28)
Game will be played at Oaks Christian High School at 6:45 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-18’s vs. San Diego Surf (Sunday, September 29)
Game will be played on University Field 2 at StubHub Center at 10 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-16’s vs. San Diego Surf (Sunday, September 29)
Game will be played on University Field 2 at StubHub Center at 12 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-14’s vs. San Diego Surf (Sunday, September 29)
Game will be played on University Field 2 at StubHub Center at 3 p.m.
LA Galaxy North U-12’s vs. FC Gold State Gold (Sunday, September 29)
Game will be played at North Torrance High School – Stadium Field at 5:15 p.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Tuesday, Sept. 24. 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-14, U-16 and U-18 teams.
