The LA Galaxy have signed 20 new players to contract for the club’s LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Unified Team ahead of the 2018 season. The athletes were announced as part of the 2018 LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team in a press conference held at StubHub Center last week. The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team will kick off their 2018 season at StubHub Center on Friday, May 25 following the LA Galaxy vs. San Jose Earthquakes MLS match when they face the LA Galaxy Academy. Tickets to the match can be purchased at www.lagalaxy.com/tickets.
At the press conference, LA Galaxy Assistant Head Coach Dominic Kinnear and LA Galaxy Defender Daniel Steres presented each player with their 2018 jersey before welcoming them to the club. After participating in an open tryout earlier in the season, the 20 players were selected based on three criteria: (1) their ability to value and work with teammates of all abilities, (2) their commitment to the Play Unified experience and their teammates, and (3) their understanding of the game of soccer and its rules.
“On behalf of the LA Galaxy, it was an honor to welcome these 20 outstanding athletes into our club,” said Kinnear. “These athletes worked hard to earn their spot in our organization and I know they will represent the LA Galaxy with great pride and respect.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Behind the scenes at LA Galaxy Special Olympics Signing Day
Following the signing ceremony, the club’s 20 newest players received their full 2018 uniforms and LA Galaxy training gear before being led onto StubHub Center’s main field by Steres, the team’s 2018 Team Ambassador.
“I was very excited to take the field with the LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California Unified Team for the first time this season,” said Steres. “The team is working hard ahead of their season opener. I have high expectations for the group and think they will impress a lot of people this year.”
The players signed will attend regular practices starting this month at StubHub Center as they get ready for their season opener on May 25. With a mix of friendlies hosted over the summer, the team will conclude the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 against Real Salt Lake Special Olympics Unified at Rio Tinto Stadium in Salt Lake.
The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Soccer Team Exchange program is a partnership between the LA Galaxy and Special Olympics Southern California that brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities together as teammates, ages 16-25, to participate in unique training, competition and social experiences.
The goal of Unified Sports is to bring people with and without intellectual disabilities together to compete, learn and grow on the same team – as equals. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports breaks down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a fun way. It was inspired by a simple principle: playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding.
The 2018 LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team schedule and roster are below. For more information, visit www.lagalaxy.com/unified/roster.
| 2018 LA GALAXY SPECIAL OLYMPICS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA UNIFIED TEAM GAMES | ||
| DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
Saturday, May 25 | LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team vs. Boys’ and Girls’ LA Galaxy Academy | StubHub Center |
Saturday, Sept. 1 | LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team vs. Real Salt Lake Special Olympics Unified Team | Rio Tinto Stadium |
<strong>NAME</strong> |
<strong>ROLE</strong> |
<strong>AGE</strong> |
<strong>CITY</strong> |
<strong>HEIGHT</strong> |
<strong>FAVORITE LA GALAXY PLAYER</strong> |
<p>Angel Vazquez</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>25</p> |
<p>Paramount</p> |
<p>5'7"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
<p>Armando Saucedo</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>24</p> |
<p>San Pedro</p> |
<p>5'8"</p> |
<p>Emmanuel Boateng</p> |
<p>David Huerta</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>17</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>6'2"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
<p>Douglas Molina</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>North Hills</p> |
<p>5'8"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
<p>Edgar Estudillo</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>23</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>5'5"</p> |
<p>Jonathan dos Santos</p> |
<p>Giber Camacho</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>17</p> |
<p>Inglewood</p> |
<p>5'7"</p> |
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović</p> |
<p>Jose Gomez</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>20</p> |
<p>Lynwood</p> |
<p>5'8"</p> |
<p>Jonathan dos Santos</p> |
<p>Jose Navarijo</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>23</p> |
<p>Hawthorne</p> |
<p>5'2"</p> |
<p>Jonathan dos Santos</p> |
<p>Jose Luis Conde</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>5'4"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
<p>Josue Foster</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>5'9"</p> |
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović</p> |
<p>Josue "Josh" Garcia</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>23</p> |
<p>Norwalk</p> |
<p>5'9"</p> |
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović</p> |
<p>Juan Ortega</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>19</p> |
<p>Hawthorne</p> |
<p>5'10"</p> |
<p>Jorgen Skjelvik</p> |
<p>Lauryn De La Torre</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>23</p> |
<p>Newbury Park</p> |
<p>5'7"</p> |
<p>Chris Pontius</p> |
<p>Logan Jones</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>Simi Valley</p> |
<p>6'2"</p> |
<p>Ola Kamara</p> |
<p>Matthew Louis</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>24</p> |
<p>Redondo Beach</p> |
<p>5'11"</p> |
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović</p> |
<p>Oliver Fiust</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>20</p> |
<p>Long Beach</p> |
<p>5'5"</p> |
<p>Zlatan Ibrahimović</p> |
<p>Peytyn De La Torre</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>18</p> |
<p>Newbury Park</p> |
<p>5'4"</p> |
<p>Chris Pontius</p> |
<p>Rebecca Lagos</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>19</p> |
<p>Hawaiian Gardens</p> |
<p>5'7"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
<p>Steven Fuentes</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>18</p> |
<p>Santa Ana</p> |
<p>5'11"</p> |
<p>Jonathan dos Santos</p> |
<p>Taylor Voegelie</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>17</p> |
<p>Huntington Beach</p> |
<p>5'10"</p> |
<p>Giovani dos Santos</p> |
