NOTE: This is the first edition of the Chivas USA Youth Development Update, a weekly roundup of Chivas USA's pioneering youth development program, including the Chivas USA Under-18, U-16, and U-15 Teams - where the region's best talent compete, free of cost, in the prestigious U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy - and the Chivas and Chivas USA Soccer Academies. For more information on Chivas USA's youth development program, please visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
SPRING SCHEDULE OPENS IN U.S. SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY:
The Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 Teams opened the second half of their seasons this past weekend in the U.S Soccer Development Academy, a nationwide youth development initiative, organized by the U.S. Soccer Federation, featuring 63 of the top youth teams in the country competing in a league system. The first part of the season ran from October to November, and following a winter break, the league has resumed play and will continue through the end of June. The 63 youth programs, including one U.S. Youth National Team in each age group, are divided into eight regions, each of which will send a single qualifier to the national finals to be held at The Home Depot Center after the regular season concludes. For more information on the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy, please visit www.ussoccer.com.
CHIVAS USA U-18 AND U-16 TEAMS OPEN ON WINNING NOTE:
Both the Chivas USA U-18 and U-16 Teams opened the second half of the season in the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy with draws against Real Colorado of Highlands Ranch, Colo. last Saturday, followed by wins over Oregon's FC Portland on Sunday. The U-18's, coached by Sacha van der Most, opened with a 1-1 draw on Saturday, getting a goal from forward Leopoldo Morales. The Chivas USA U-16 Team, coached by Samuel Rivas, achieved the same scoreline thanks to a goal by forward Roberto Romo. Both games were played in the Santa Ana Bowl on the campus of Santa Ana College. The two Chivas USA teams fared better on Sunday in games played at the Dan Young Complex in Santa Ana, Calif., as the U-18's earned a 5-0 win over FC Portland , with Morales earning a hat-trick and José Díaz and Nikolas Acosta rounding out the scoreline. The U-16's captured a 3-2 victory over FC Portland's U-16's, on goals from Jorge Ramírez, Brian de la Fuente, and Andy López. The next match for Chivas USA's top youth teams comes against the Irvine Strikers next Saturday, March 15, at Concordia University in Irvine. Click here: U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy for full schedules for Chivas USA's U-18 and U-16 Teams.
CURRENT CHIVAS USA U-18 AND U-16 ROSTERS: The current rosters for Chivas USA's U-18 and U-16 Teams are listed below. The rosters are open for changes in advance of the April 1 deadline for additions and replacements, after which date the rosters will be set for the remainder of the U.S. Soccer Developmental Academy's 2007-08 season.
Chivas USA Under-18 Team Roster (As of March 6, 2008)
• 1; Juan Quiroz; GK; 3/4/1990; Inglewood, CA
• 2; Omar Elmasri; DF; 9/5/1990; Arcadia, CA
• 3; Nikolas Acosta; MD; 4/26/1989; Temecula, CA
• 4; Gerson Mayen; MD; 2/9/1989; Los Angeles, CA
• 5; Jose Diaz; DF; 1/25/1991; Fontana, CA
• 6; Cesar Zamora; MD; 5/27/1991; Sylmar, CA
• 7; Leopoldo Morales; FW; 3/6/1990; Bellflower, CA
• 8; Hector Molina; MD; 11/5/1990; Van Nuys, CA
• 9; Arnaldo Salazar; FW; 10/16/1989; Norwalk, CA
• 10; Armando Rocha; FW; 4/14/1989; Huntington Beach, CA
• 11; Mario Ledezma; FW; 12/17/1990; Sylmar, CA
• 12; Gildardo Aguirre; GK; 2/19/1989; Northridge, CA
• 13; Hugo Sanchez; DF; 9/10/1990; Los Angeles, CA
• 14; Omar Becerra; DF; 9/20/1990; San Diego, CA
• 15; Rod Fahmian; DF; 4/26/1990; Riverside, CA
• 16; Michael Muniz; DF; 1/12/1990; El Monte, CA
• 17; Victor Sanchez; FW; 8/23/1990; Huntington Park, CA
• 18; Erick Escobedo; MD; 7/16/1990; Bell Gardens, CA
• 19; Jesse Paredes; MD; 4/1/1990; Los Angeles, CA
Head Coach: Sacha van der Most van Spijk
Assistant Coach: Refugio Mancilla
Chivas USA Under-16 Team Roster (As of March 6, 2008)
• 1; Antonio Flores; GK; 1/4/1992; Paramount, CA
• 2; Kelsy Paredes; DF; 4/12/1991; Los Angeles, CA
• 3; Cesar Arenas; DF; 9/5/1991; Fontana, CA
• 4; Alan Enrique Valencia; MF; 4/7/1992; Sin. Mex/South Gate, CA
• 6; Clayton Eaton; MF; 5/24/1991; Norco, CA
• 7; Andy Lopez; FW; 12/21/1991; Mex/Los Angeles,CA
• 8; Oliquer Olivar; MF; 2/10/1991; Winnetka, CA
• 10; Carlo Chueca; MF; 3/23/1993; Peru/Palm Sprigs,CA
• 11; Jorge Ramirez; FW; 5/23/1991; Upland, CA
• 12; Mario Gonzales; GK; 3/8/1991; Huntington Park, CA
• 13; Angel Rodriquez; MF; 3/2/1992; Moreno Valley, CA
• 14; Carlos Torres, Jr.; DF; 8/27/1992; Compton, CA
• 15; Steve Torres; DF; 1/2/1991; Pomona, CA
• 16; Brian Llamas; FW; 9/10/1991; Wilmington, CA
• 17; Brian De La Fuente; FW; 7/1/1992; Lynwood, CA
• 18; Jaime Noe Cano Marroquin; MF 5/26/1992; Inglewood, CA
• 19; Jonathan Medina; MF; 6/25/1991; Placentia, CA
• 20; Roberto Romo; FW; 5/21/1991; Paramount, CA
Head Coach: Samuel Rivas
Assistant Coach: Miguel Ramos
For media information about Chivas USA's Youth Development program, or any other Chivas USA activities, please contact Chivas USA Communications: Keegan Pierce, kpierce@cdchivasusa.com, +1 (310) 595-5264; Eduard Cauich, ecauich@cdchivasusa.com, +1 (310) 982-3656; David Lindholm, dlindholm@cdchivasusa.com, +1 (310) 974-2987.
Club Deportivo Chivas USA kicks off its 2008 MLS season on March 30 at FC Dallas before playing its 2008 Home Opener against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, April 5 at The Home Depot Center. For tickets, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
