Academy Teams Wrap Up Winter Showcase Today

The LA Galaxy Academy Teams will complete their stay at the 2009 U.S. Soccer Development Academy Winter Showcase in Phoenix this afternoon. Both the U-16 and U-18 teams have played two games heading into today's game, with the 16's tallying a 1-1-0 record, while the 18's are 0-1-1 heading into today's game.

Both teams opened the Showcase on Saturday evening with the U-16's getting off on the right foot with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls were up 2-0 inside the opening 20 minutes, but Scott Cohen pulled one back for the Galaxy just before halftime. LA was able to carry that momentum over into the second half with Dyllan Stevens scoring the equalizer ten minutes after the re-start. Stevens put the Galaxy in front seven minutes later and they were able to hold on for the win.

It was a similar scene later in the day when the Galaxy U-18's opened up play against FC Dallas. LA once again started slow, falling behind 3-0 after 20 minutes. Christian Alvarado got the Galaxy on the board early in the second half, but they were unable to further cut into the Dallas lead and fell 3-1.

After a day off on Sunday, both teams were back in action on Monday afternoon taking on New Jersey-based club PDA. The U-18's got their first point of the trip, claiming a 1-1 draw thanks to a 67th minute goal from Riley Wolfe. The Galaxy went into halftime trailing 1-0 before Wolfe struck his equalizer.

The U-16's were not so lucky against PDA as they were unable to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit and lost by the same scoreline.

Both teams kick-off their final game of the Showcase later this afternoon, with the U-16's taking on Texas SC and the U-18's playing an Academy Select team, which is made up of some of the nation’s top youth players from Development Academy clubs.

Former Galaxy Academy player Eric Gonzalez was also in action in Phoenix, playing two games with the U.S. Under-17 National Team in the Nike International Friendlies. Gonzalez came off the bench to play the final 54 minutes of his team's 2-1 loss to Portugal on Friday. A day later, Gonzalez was in the starting lineup for the 1-1 draw against Brazil. The U.S. completed their trip to Phoenix last night with a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands, with Gonzalez on the bench for that game.

A midfielder from Corona, Calif., Gonzalez played for the Galaxy Academy last season before being invited into residency in Florida with the U-17 National Team.