CARSON, Calif. (Friday, October 19, 2012) –Jorge Miranda (Van Nuys) and Rolando Muñoz (Rancho Cucamonga) of the LA Galaxy Academy were named to the U.S. Under-17 National Team’s 20-man roster that will participate in the Four Nations Tournament in Argentina and a pair of friendlies against Uruguay and Paraguay on Oct. 21 and Oct. 27, respectively.
Miranda and Muñoz are currently in Bradenton, Fla., training full-time with the U-17 Men’s National Team as part of the 2012 Fall Semester of the U.S. U-17 Men’s National Team Residency Program. This is the second time this month that Muñoz and Miranda will represent the U.S. on foreign soil. The duo was part of the U.S. U-17 squad that claimed second place in the AGS Cup in Spain with a 3-1-1 record. Muñoz appeared in all five games played in Spain, while Miranda appeared in two, including the team’s 2-1 wins over Morocco and Canada. The U.S. U-17’s also beat the United Arab Emirates 2-0, lost to Azerbaijan 1-0 and tied 1-1 with Mexico at the AGS Cup.
Led by Head Coach Richie Williams, the U.S. will begin their trip to Argentina in Buenos Aires with a friendly against Uruguay on Oct. 21. Two days later, the four-team tournament kicks off with the U.S. facing Chile in Santa Fe, Argentina on Oct. 23. The U.S. will then face either Panama or host Argentina, depending on the results, on Oct. 25. They will then conclude their tour with a friendly against Paraguay in Buenos Aires on Oct. 27.
GALAXY U-18’S LOOK TO STAY UNBEATEN: A week after beating rival Chivas USA 3-1 in the U.S. Soccer Development League, the LA Galaxy U-18 team will host Irvine-based Strikers FC at The Home Depot Center Saturday at 10 a.m.
The Galaxy (3-0-1 overall, 2-0-0 SoCal Division) have started the season by getting 10 out of a possible 12 points from their first four game. Forward Jack McBean (Newport Beach) leads the team with four goals, while Cal Poly-bound Justin Dhillon (Rancho Santa Margarita) is second on the team with two goals.
The Strikers (2-1-2 overall, 0-0-1 SoCal Division) boast a four-goal scorer of their own in Paul Salcedo Borrego and a pair of two-goal scorers, the Cal-bound duo of Matthew Chasman and Christian Thierjung.
LA are currently second in the always competitive SoCal Division behind Real Salt Lake-Arizona (4-0-1 overall, 2-0-1 SoCal Division), which has played one more game than the Galaxy.
GALAXY U-16’S SEARCHING FOR FIRST WIN: Still in search of their first win of the season, the Galaxy U-16’s host an Irvine-based Striker FC team that is five points ahead of them in the standings.
The Galaxy (0-2-2 overall, 0-2-0 SoCal Division) started the year with draws against non-division foes Seattle and Portland, but have since dropped SoCal Division games against Arsenal and Chivas USA in their last two outings. Last year, the Galaxy’s longest winless streak was three. It came in the form of a draw and two losses during the Development Academy Winter Showcase played in Florida in early December. LA did not lose a game after the showcase the rest of the season, which concluded with a 22-game unbeaten streak, winning the SoCal Division Championship and a second-consecutive playoff appearance.
DELOSO-FLOCCO AND ORTIZ LEAD GALAXY U-13 TO 6-2 WIN: Angelo Deloso-Flocco and Jose Ortiz were the stars as the duo combined for three goals and four assists to lead the LA Galaxy U-13’s to a 6-2 win over Beach FC. Deloso-Flocco set up a pair of first half goals for Ortiz while Ortiz returned the favor after the break, setting up Deloso-Flocco for a goal of his own.
Brecc Evans gave LA an early 1-0 lead in the 5th minute when he redirected a free kick into the back of the net. After Beach FC tied the score at 1-1 in the 11th minute, Ortiz scored two goals two minutes apart to give the Galaxy a 3-1 lead. Jose Sosa then added to the lead in the 53rd minute and two minutes later Deloso-Flocco made it 5-1. After Beach FC got a goal back, Ortiz linked up with Jacob Muchnick for the day’s final goal as LA won 6-2.
With the win, the Galaxy U-13’s improved to 4-1-0 in the Southern California Development Soccer League. This weekend, they host CZ Elite at North Torrance High on Saturday morning at 10:25 a.m.
GALAXY U-14’S START SEASON 5-0, FACE ARSENAL THIS WEEKEND: Jesus Nuñez scored twice for the LA Galaxy U-14’s as Ante Razov’s side improved to 5-0-0 in the season with a 4-0 win over Santa Barbara.
Salvador “Chava” Segura, who leads the team with 11 goals, did not add to his goal tally, but he did help out in the attack assisting on Colin Apel’s goal in the 11th minute. Patrick Murphy also got into the mix scoring, finishing off an assist from Pierce Williams in the 42nd minute to make it 3-0. Nuñez finished off the scoring barrage in the 43rd minute with his second of the day to make to make 4-0.
The first-place Galaxy U-14’s will be in for a stiff challenge this weekend from Arsenal FC, currently second in the standings with a record of 4-0-1, leaving them two points behind the first place Galaxy. Both teams have only allowed two goals each on the season, while the Galaxy’s offense has been nearly twice as proficient, scoring 25 times compared to 13 for Arsenal. The game kicks off Sunday, Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. on Field 1 at CSU San Bernardino.
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
LA Galaxy U-13 vs. CZ Elite U-13
Saturday, October 20
Game will be played at North Torrance High School (Stadium) at 10:25 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-14 vs. Arsenal FC U-14
Sunday, October 21
Game will be played at Cal State University San Bernardino, Field 1 at 9 a.m.
LA Galaxy U-15 vs. Chivas USA U-15
Sunday, October 21
Game will be played at North Torrance High School (Stadium) at 1:35 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-16 vs. Strikers FC U-16
Saturday, October 20
Game will be played on University Field #5 at The Home Depot Center at 12:30 p.m.
LA Galaxy U-18 vs. Strikers FC U-18
Saturday, October 20
Game will be played on University Field #5 at The Home Depot Center at 10 a.m.
Times and locations for all games are correct as of Friday, October 19. 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-16 and U-18 teams.
