LOS ANGELES (Wednesday, April 17, 2019) – 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 2019 season. The LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team will kick off the 2019 season at Dignity Health Sports Park on Friday, April 19 following the LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo MLS match when they face the Houston Dynamo Special Olympics Unified team. Tickets to the match can be purchased at www.lagalaxy.com/tickets
The athletes were announced during the 2019 LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team signing ceremony on April 3 at Dignity Health Sports Park. At the ceremony, LA Galaxy Assistant Coach Dominic Kinnear and LA Galaxy players Daniel Steres, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Ethan Zubak and Joe Corona presented each player with their 2019 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.
The players signed will attend regular practices starting this month at Dignity Health Sports Park. In addition to a mix of friendlies hosted over the summer, the team will travel to Red Bull Arena on Saturday, May 4 to face off against New York Red Bulls Unified team.
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 2019 LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team schedule and roster are below.
2019 LA Galaxy Special Olympics Southern California Unified Team Games
<strong>DATE</strong> |
<strong>OPPONENT</strong> |
<strong>LOCATION</strong> |
<p>Friday, April 19</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team vs. Houston Dynamo Unified Team</p> |
<p>Dignity Health Sports Park</p> |
<p>Saturday, May 4</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team vs. New York Red Bulls Unified Team</p> |
<p>Red Bull Arena</p> |
<p>August (Date TBA)</p> |
<p>LA Galaxy SOSC Unified Team vs. LA Galaxy Boys’ and Girls’ Academy in August</p> |
<p>Dignity Health Sports Park</p> |
<strong>NAME</strong> |
<strong>ROLE</strong> |
<strong>JERSEY #</strong> |
<strong>HOMETOWN</strong> |
<p>Keven Ramirez Batres</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>1</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Rebecca Lagos</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>3</p> |
<p>Hawaiian Gardens</p> |
<p>Daniel Saucedo</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>4</p> |
<p>San Pedro</p> |
<p>Bodey Waldeck</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>5</p> |
<p>Santa Clarita</p> |
<p>Karen Delgado</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>6</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Rigoberto Cervantes</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>7</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Cristian Valencia</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>8</p> |
<p>San Pedro</p> |
<p>Douglas Molina</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>9</p> |
<p>North Hills</p> |
<p>Eric Silva Ortega</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>10</p> |
<p>Hawthorne</p> |
<p>Neyber Serrano</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>11</p> |
<p>North Hills</p> |
<p>David Huerta</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>12</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Logan Jones</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>13</p> |
<p>Simi Valley</p> |
<p>Juan Ortega</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>14</p> |
<p>Hawthorne</p> |
<p>Jose Chavez Jr.</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>20</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Jonathan Compton</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>21</p> |
<p>Compton</p> |
<p>Jose Conde Jr.</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>22</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Giber Camacho</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>23</p> |
<p>Inglewood</p> |
<p>Edwin Perez</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>24</p> |
<p>Los Angeles</p> |
<p>Matthew Louis</p> |
<p>Partner</p> |
<p>26</p> |
<p>Redondo Beach</p> |
<p>Armando Saucedo</p> |
<p>Athlete</p> |
<p>32</p> |
<p>San Pedro</p> |
