LA Galaxy II (8-18-5, 29 points) will leave Los Angeles for their last game of the 2017 season, when they travel to face Real Monarchs SLC (19-5-7, 64 points) at 6 p.m. PT on Saturday, Oct. 14 at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake City (streamed live and for free on LAGalaxy.com/2).
Los Dos return to action after one of their highlight wins of the season: a dramatic 3-2 victory over Portland Timbers 2 on Oct. 7 at home in front of the first-ever sold out Los Dos crowd of 3,000. In the match, Portland drew things level at 2-2 in the 88th minute. But their efforts were undone, as defender and match captain Jefrey Payeras scored in the 94th minute on a short corner play.
Galaxy II’s two all-time leading scorers, Jack McBean and Ariel Lassiter, also tallied goals in the match. On McBean’s goal, 15-year-old debutant Efrain Alvarez supplied the assist. At the start of the second half, Alvarez made history, becoming the youngest player to ever participate in a USL match after being signed to Los Dos in August. Right now, he’s got a 1-0-0 record to his name.
That win marked the 50th for the club in their four-season history, but this will mark the first season that LA Galaxy II will not participate in postseason competition. After three consecutive seasons in the USL Playoffs, an 8-18-5 record from Los Dos has them 16 points off playoff inclusion heading into the final weekend.
And in this closing weekend, they’ll get league leaders Real Monarchs SLC, who were crowned Supporters’ Shield champions last weekend in a 1-1 draw at home against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2. Despite the victory, the team has let off the gas at home, going 2-1-3 in their last six home outings after going a perfect 9-0-0 at home through the majority of the season.
LA had found success on the road at times this season, but have dropped from away from Los Angeles as of late. With one away game left, they’ll look to improve their 4-10-1 road record. They’ll be looking to do so against former Galaxy man Chandler Hoffman, who has recorded 16 goals with SLC this season.
NOTES
- In their last match, LA Galaxy II defeated Portland Timbers FC 2 3-2 on Oct. 7.
- Jack McBean, Ariel Lassiter and Jefrey Payeras scored in the match.
- The Galaxy earned their 50th win in franchise history.
- Justin Dhillon (6), Adrian Vera (5) and Ariel Lassiter (5) lead the team in goals this season. Dhillon and Vera have each scored three away goals this season.
- Ethan Zubak leads the team with 3 assists.
- For the first time in club history, LA Galaxy II will not qualify for the USL Cup Playoffs.
