Development Academy: LA Galaxy U-18s keeping pace in SoCal Division
By Jimmy LaRoue
The LA Galaxy’s U-18s remained unbeaten after a home, 7-0 win over Strikers FC Saturday, moving to 4-0-1 overall and 3-0-0 in the SoCal Division.
Justin Dhillon had a second-half hat trick for the Galaxy, but Paul Arriola started off strong with a 3rd minute goal, and Oscar Sorto had two goals in a two-minute span of the first half to open up the game.
Dhillon got his first goal in the 55th minute, and seven minutes later, John McBean extended the Galaxy’s lead over Strikers FC (2-2-2) to 5-0 with his fifth goal of the season. In the 68th minute, Dhillon added his second goal, and in the 75th minute, picked up his third goal of the match.
Real Salt Lake AZ (5-0-1), meanwhile, keeps its division lead with a tough, 1-0 win over newcomers Portland Timbers, getting an 86th minute goal from Benjamin Lopez, his fourth of the season, to pull out the full three points.
In the Frontier Division, the Colorado Rapids U-16s have rebounded from their only loss of the season Oct. 7 to pick up two straight wins and move to 5-1-0 on the season, including a 2-0 win over Andromeda FC Oct. 20.
It didn’t take long for the Rapids to get going with Victor Rolph’s 1st minute goal. Gustavo Montes added the Rapids’ second goal in the 68th minute, his fourth of the season, to secure the win.
Crew Soccer Academy Wolves U-16s have started strong as well, opening the season 6-0-1, but another Michigan side, Vardar SC Freiburg, is nipping at its heels at 5-0-2. The two teams have played to a Oct. 6, 1-1 tie. From there, CSA Wolves followed that up with a trio of one-goal wins, the latest coming against Crew Soccer Academy in a 2-1 decision, an 80th minute goal from Hunter Barone the decider. Vardar SC Freiburg has also won three straight, its latest after a brace from Nathan McLean secured the full three points in a 2-1 win over Internationals.
In the Northeast Division, Oakwood Soccer Club is looking to challenge New York Red Bulls (5-0-1) and has started off 4-0-0 after a 2-0 win over South Central Premier, with goals from Logan Gdula in the 18th minute and nine minutes later from Kyle Losi securing the three points. The Red Bulls are coming off a scoreless tie Sunday against New England Revolution.
In the Northwest Division, De Anza Force U-16s has won six straight to start the season, all one-goal wins, their latest a 2-1 win over Cal Odyssey. De Anza Force got goals from Jonathan Navarro (19th minute) and Carlos Delgadillo (62nd minute) and held on after Cal Odyssey’s Alexis Jasso scored in the 79th minute.
In U-18s, after an extended time off, CASL Chelsea FC Academy picked up its fourth win in four matches to start the season, defeating North Carolina Fusion 3-2 behind a brace from Yousef Asad and an 87th minute goal from Yanni Hachem to put CASL up 3-1, which proved to matter after Warren Marshall scored in the fifth minute of second half added time to close to within 3-2.
And, in San Jose, the Earthquakes U-18s have started well, winning their fourth straight after a 3-1 win over Santa Cruz Breakers Academy, with two goals from Jesus Garcia, his fourth and fifth goals of the season, and another from Elisama Padilla, while getting strong goalkeeping from Austen Black. San Jose has outscored opponents 14-3 on the season.
Garcia’s first goal came on a centering ball from Armando Leon that found Garcia all alone after beating his man. He promptly tucked the ball into the corner to give San Jose the early lead. Garcia scored again on a penalty kick after Jesse Morales was taken down in the box. The Quakes outshot Santa Cruz 10-4 and possessed the ball for long stretches. Conor Corboy scored the loan Santa Cruz goal on a PK in the 30th minute.
